Tanzania: Fastjet's Flights to Zanzibar From Dar to Boost Tourism

Dar es Salaam — Fastjet will commence daily flights to Zanzibar from its hub Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

The low-cost pan-African airline's daily flights between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar will be started on 11 January 2016. This will also help to boost tourism in the Isles and Zanzibar's' economic growth.

"This is in response to strong passenger and tour operator demand from within the local and regional market," the airline's General Manager, Mr. Jimmy Kibati said.

The daily flight services between Dar and Zanzibar will be operated using Fastjet's modern Airbus A319 jet aircraft with seating for up to 156 passengers.

He said Dar-Zanzibar flight that will also be connecting to Johannesburg in South Africa is in line with Fastjet's policy of listening to its customers' demands.

According to Kibati, flights to South Africa will depart Zanzibar at 09h30 and land in Johannesburg at 13h20, with the return flight from Johannesburg departing at 14h10 and landing in Zanzibar at 19h40 (all local times).

The new route will be sweet music to the ears of local and international holiday makers who will now have a choice of departure days, unlike before when they were restricted to start their holidays on either a Tuesday or a Thursday.

Tickets for the Zanzibar flights are on sale immediately, with one way fares from Dar es Salaam starting from Tsh 22,000 ($10.27) and fares from Zanzibar starting 22,000 ($10.27), making a return flight to the Spice Islands from Dar es Salaam start at only Tsh 70,000 ($ 32.67) including all airport and government taxes.

Conversely, he added one way fares from Johannesburg to Zanzibar will start from ZAR1,704, and fares from Zanzibar starting at ZAR1,860, making a return flight to the Spice Islands from Johannesburg start at only ZAR3,564 including all airport and government taxes.

Fastjet's lowest fares to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam will be significantly cheaper than those charged by the only airline currently flying this route, who do so only twice a week.