fastjet to enter SA market

Blockbuster is associated with a number of high profile South Africans including, Edward Zuma and Yusuf Kajee. It is anticipated that the new entity will be 75% owned by Blockbuster, in compliance with South African law, and 25% owned by fastjet.

Tickets are expected to go on sales in a few weeks and fastjet is targeting the 31 of May to launch the initial Johannesburg to Cape Town route.

A commercial arrangement has been struck between Blockbuster and local operator Federal Airlines, a company with a 20 year history in South Africa, which will allow fastjet to leverage Federal Airline's existing licensing infrastructure and deliver its low-cost airline model to the South African public.

Low-cost operating model

In recent months, fastjet has been in discussions with a number of South Africa-based entities to support its market entry strategy, including negotiations regarding a potential purchase of liquidated airline 1time.

In the opinion of the directors, the value of the 1time has diminished over time. As there is still no indication that 1time creditors will accept the fastjet offer, the company has therefore chosen to invest in the Blockbuster/Federal Airlines venture to pursue its entry into an important African market and a country well-suited to fastjet's low-cost operating model. fastjet is also pleased to announce that it has raised additional working capital to assist with the South Africa launch though a successful placing with an institutional investor who is committed to low cost air travel in Africa.

The company has received legally binding commitments to raise £2,000,000 by way of the issue of 160 million new ordinary shares (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 1.25 pence per share (the "Placing Price"). These shares will rank pari passu in all respects with existing ordinary shares of fastjet. Following completion of the Placing the company will announce the issue of the Placing Shares and the date of their admission to AIM, expected by Wednesday, 1 May 2013. The Placing Shares carry one attaching warrant for every two allocated Placing Shares subscribed, with each warrant entitling the holder to subscribe for one ordinary share in the Company at the Placing Price with an exercise period of one month.

Commercial manager of Federal Airlines, Brad Dickson commented: "We look forward to working closely with fastjet and cementing a new relationship in the South African aviation environment."

Commenting on the announcement, fastjet's chief executive, Ed Winter said: "We believe that the operating agreements in place between Blockbuster and Federal Air represent a great opportunity for fastjet, our local investors, our partners at Federal Air and most importantly, the South African public. Though we have been in talks with a number of companies regarding licensing arrangements, we have ultimately decided that in order to best serve South African customers, we should invest not in the past, but in the future."

A gap in the marketplace

"We are now firmly focused on quickly getting up and running in order to create a fresh, unique and commercially sustainable offering which will stimulate the market. fastjet sees a strategic gap in the South African marketplace for a pan-continental, low-cost airline operating the yield management model required to keep fares affordable for passengers, not just at launch, but also in the long term."

David Lenigas, fastjet's chairman added "Air fares in South Africa have skyrocketed since 1time ceased flying at the end of last year, and many planes are operating at full capacity - specifically on the key Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban routes. Today is an incredibly exciting day for fastjet, not just in South Africa, but across the entire continent. As populations grow and disposable income and consumer spending increases, there is greater demand for affordable air travel. We would like to be part of the solution."

"We do not seek to be a hostile competitor in the market place as we fully understand and appreciate the significance of the national carrier and existing airlines in the country, but we want to provide extra seat capacity to South Africans so that they can travel when and where they want at better prices.

fastjet seeks to meet that demand, and we look forward to bringing the people of Africa the continent's first low-cost, point-to-point, all jet airline, operating to international standards of safety and quality. In South Africa, the airline intends to initially operate flights along the Johannesburg - Cape Town route twice a day, seven days a week in the prime business travel morning and afternoon slots. Flights to other key destinations will be launched once the Cape Town route is established."

Earlier this week, fastjet announced the signing of a MoU with Don Smith, CEO of Five Forty Aviation Limited which trades in Kenya as Fly 540 to resolve issues that have concerned the media in particular. The signing of this MOU provides a positive platform for fastjet to strengthen its East African hub.

For more, go to www.fastjet.com/tz