Fastjet accepts Bid for freight launch

African low cost airline Fastjet has signed an agreement with one of Africa's largest cargo operators, BidAir, to carry cargo on its fleet of Airbus A319s.

The results of a recent feasibility study found the current Fastjet operation has sufficient capacity to accommodate the carrying of cargo on its Tanzanian routes. The airline management said in a statement today that it expects this to provide an additional revenue stream for the airline without compromising its core business.
Initially Fastjet said it intends to carry "dry" cargo such as post and newspapers.
Richard Bodin, chief commercial officer said "The cargo revenue rates per kilo in Africa are some of the highest in the world due to the challenges presented by poor road and rail infrastructure. Carrying cargo by air is often the most efficient choice for cargo operators. We believe that offering this service will create an additional revenue stream for Fastjet while incurring low additional operating costs. BidAir is the perfect partner for us due to its excellent reputation and customer-centric focus.
Vincent Banda, CEO of BidAir Cargo in Tanzania, said: "We are proud to be associated with Fastjet, and by replicating our business model, which has thus far proven successful in South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia, we are confident that we can provide a quality and reliable service to Tanzanians. "