Fly-SAX appoints Brown Francis as Head of New Airline SAX-Tanzania

NAIROBI, Kenya--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fly-SAX, Kenya’s premier safari and private charter airline, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brown Francis, a veteran of the airline industry in Tanzania, as General Manager of SAX-Tanzania, a new airline established in Tanzania. Subject to receiving regulatory approvals from Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, the new airline’s maiden flight is expected to occur in the second half of 2014.

“I am delighted to be working again with Brown Francis. Having previously headed up Fly540’s and Fastjet’s operations in Tanzania, he brings a wealth of experience and local knowledge to SAX-Tanzania. I look forward to him making it a great success.”

“We are launching a new airline to meet the ever-increasing demand for low-cost, efficient and safe air travel within Tanzania from the country’s own citizens as well as international tourists visiting the country,” said Don Smith, CEO & Founder of Fly-SAX and Fly540 Kenya. “I am delighted to be working again with Brown Francis. Having previously headed up Fly540’s and Fastjet’s operations in Tanzania, he brings a wealth of experience and local knowledge to SAX-Tanzania. I look forward to him making it a great success.”

Mr Brown Francis, 49 years, is a veteran of the airline industry with over 25 years experience. He joins SAX-Tanzania from Fastjet, where he held the position of Director for Industry Affairs for Tanzania since late 2012. Prior to that, Mr Francis was General Manager of Fly540 Tanzania, where he worked closely with Don Smith from 2009 until 2012. Additionally, Mr Francis worked as Operations Manager for Regional Air Services Arusha for 12 years.

Brown Francis, General Manager of Fly-SAX Tanzania, added: “We are very excited about this new start in Tanzania, which builds on the strength of our previous Fly540 operations in the country. Tanzania is home to three of Africa’s natural wonders and is rapidly becoming the holiday destination of choice for international visitors as well as domestic holidaymakers. We believe that we have the right model in place to grow this airline to best serve our passengers within Tanzania.”

Tanzania is home to three of Africa’s natural wonders, namely Mount Kilamanjaro, the spectacular animal migration and the Nogorongoro volcanic crater. In January 2014, Tanzania was named one of “52 Places to Go in 2014” by The New York Times in its Sunday Travel Section (12 January 2014). According to World Bank data, air passenger numbers increased by over 40 percent between 2009 and 2012, and the Tanzania Tourism Board states it has increased dramatically over the past two years.