Fastjet

Originally reported to be competing with easyJet,[3] it was later claimed that Fastjet was planned to be a transatlantic long-haul airline.[4] It was eventually revealed that Fastjet was a proposed low-cost African airline, and that an agreement had been signed with Rubicon Investments.[5]

In June 2012 the plans became clearer. To start the operations, Rubicon Diversified Investments Plc (later renamed Fastjet Plc) completed the acquisition of Lonrho's airline division for a transaction value of US$85.7m, satisfied by the issue of Rubicon ordinary shares to Lonrho. Key shareholders in the enlarged company would be Lonrho and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, through his easyGroup Holdings Limited (“easyGroup”). The airline division acquired included the African regional airline Fly 540, operating in Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, which would form the platform for the development of a low-cost carrier for Africa, branded ‘Fastjet’ under the terms of the easyGroup brand licence agreement.

The airline chose Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as its first operating base in Africa, with flights from Julius Nyerere International Airport commencing on 29 November 2012. Initially flights operated successfully between Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro, and between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. Further routes were to be added quickly, both domestically and to other East African destinations,[6] and FastJet said it would move its operation office from Tanzania to Kenya, once it has approval to operate in Kenya.[7] Once established in East Africa, Fastjet also had plans to launch in Ghana and Angola.[8] In May 2014 Fly540 Ghana and Fly540 Angola were both shut down as they were incompatible with the Fastjet low-cost model.[9][10]

As well as expanding services from the base in Tanzania, in October 2015 the company obtained an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) for Zimbabwe,[11] and announced its plans to launch fastjet Zimbabwe. The initial flights between its base at Harare International Airport to Victoria Falls commenced on 28 October 2015,[12] and flights to Johannesburg commenced from 1 February 2016.[13] Although Fastjet Zambia was at an advanced planning stage, in April 2016 it was announced that progress was being deferred until at least the final quarter of 2016.[14]

With troubled operations and continued losses, majority shareholder Stelios Haji-Ioannou through his holding in EasyGroup successfully changed the board of fastjet Plc with the departure of six board members in a short period of time. Ed Winters was replaced as CEO by Nico Bezuidenhout, from rival low-cost airline MangoSA, on 1 August 2016.[15]

Bezuidenhout instigated a 'Stabilisation Plan', which included reducing unprofitable routes, switching from A319s to (smaller) Embraer aircraft and moving the airline's headquarters from London Gatwick Airport to Africa - later revealed as a move to Johannesburg.[16] The aim was to achieve cashflow breakeven in the fourth quarter of 2017.[2] As part of a further fundraising in September 2017, to raise not less than US$44m, it was revealed that the Plan's objectives had been achieved or were on track.[2]

At the time of the fundraising, it was announced in September 2017 that domestic flights would be launched in both Mozambique and South Africa, by way of brand licence agreements with Solenta Aviation Mozambique and Federal Airlines respectively. Both were established profitable airlines, but only flew small aircraft, operating air shuttle, scheduled and charter services.[2] Fastjet Mozambique commenced operations on 3 November 2017 with flights from Maputo to Beira, Nampula and Tete.

2017 also saw fastjet revise the company slogan from smart travel to for everyone, further reinforcing the company's mandate to make air travel in Africa more affordable and open to all, particularly those who never thought it possible.

As of February 2018, CEO Nico Bezuidenhout continues to build on fastjet's current routes, with the launch of a Dar es Salaam to Kigoma flight. The airline launched daily flights between Harare and Bulawayo on 20 July 2018, marking it as the most affordable airline to operate the Harare Bulawayo route. More route launches are expected throughout the course of the year.

Fastjet Plc (FJET:LSE) is incorporated in England and Wales and is traded on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (AIM). The company intends to evaluate a dual listing of the Company on the AltX market of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.[2]

Current estimated major interests in ordinary shares (as at April 2017)[17] are:

The Group's stated aim is to become the continent's first low-cost, pan-African airline, but each country has different local ownership and other requirements. To accommodate this, Fastjet use a combination of brand licenses and partially owned locally incorporated airlines to operate services, all using common branding, operational standards and sales platform. The current structure is:

The subsidiaries are included in the Group financial statements, because although the Group holds 50% or less of the voting rights in each, it controls the management, operations and distributions through contractual agreements as well as its shareholding.[18]

The Fastjet brand was originally owned by Easygroup Holdings Ltd, and licensed to Fastjet Plc. On 29 June 2017 Fastjet Plc entered into an agreement with Easygroup Holdings Ltd to acquire all intellectual property rights associated with the fastjet brand for $2.5 million.[19] Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who established the fastjet brand in 2012, stated, “fastjet is a great brand in all its African markets, making it a highly valuable asset for the company. I have accepted the view of the current board that the company should own its own brand rather than licence it from me.”

Fastjet Group results are shown below (as at year ending 31 December 2016). Fastjet began trading under its own name on 29 November 2012. Financial results below for 2012 for Fastjet were for the 18-month period ended 31 December 2012. The company and group report in US Dollars.