fastjet Passenger Statistics for May 2014

RNS Number : 7585J

Fastjet PLC

17 June 2014

 



fastjet plc

("fastjet" or the "Company")

17th June 2014

fastjet Passenger Statistics for May 2014

fastjet plc is pleased to announce its passenger statistics for the month of May 2014.

fastjet operations in Tanzania carried a total of 43,020 passengers and achieved a load factor of 71%, representing an increase in passenger numbers of 20.3% compared to the previous month, and 77.5% compared to the same month in the previous year^{Note 3}.

Month on month, capacity has increased by 11%, with 60,320 seats flown in May compared to 54,230 in April.  Capacity on the Dar-es-Salaam to Lusaka route has increased by 27% (May vs April); Dar-es-Salaam to Mbeya by 43% (May vs April) and Dar-es-Salaam to Mwanza by 23% (May vs March.) 

Compared with the same month last year, the number of seats has increased by 68% and revenue by 81% . 

Although May is typically wet in Tanzania, during the month, the country experienced much longer and heavier bouts of rain than normal for the time of the year.  While this prolonged period of adverse weather did affect punctuality, 89% of flights still arrived on time, a 10% improvement on April ^{Note 5}.               

Ed Winter, Interim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of fastjet plc, said:

"I am delighted to see our capacity increasing as we maximise the utilisation of resources, particularly our aircraft, as planned.  We expect to announce further increases in capacity, including new routes, in the very near future.

"I am particularly pleased that the number of flown passengers has increased by 20% compared with April, against a capacity increase of only 11%. This demonstrates that we continue to stimulate the market and that our customers value fastjet's performance. We maintain our position of market leader across Tanzania."

As previously announced, Fly 540 operations in Ghana and Angola are suspended pending further restructuring.  Consequently, passenger numbers carried by the legacy Fly540 operations continue to decline, as expected.  As these businesses are being restructured, it has been decided that Fly540 passenger numbers are no longer relevant in evaluating the performance of the business. Going forward, only fastjet passenger statistics will be published each month. 

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All Operations ^{Note 1}

Month ending                                                   May 2014                        May 2013                 Change

Passengers ^{Note 2}                                               71,320                                 81,581                    -12.6%

Rolling 12 months ending                            May 2014                         May 2013                  Change

Passengers ^{Note 2}                                               967,365                              835,008                     +16%

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fastjet Operations ^{Note 4}

Month ending                                                   May 2014                        May 2013                  Change

Passengers ^{Note 2}                                                   43,020                             24,233                          78%

Load Factor ^{Note 3}                                                        71%                                  67%                        +4pp

Rolling 12 months ending                            May 2014                        May 2013                    Change

Passengers ^{Note 2}                                                408,178                            168,373                      142%

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Notes:

1.    "All Operations" includes statistics for fastjet Tanzania, Fly540 Kenya, Fly 540 Ghana and Fly540 Angola.

2.    "Passengers" for 540 operationsare flown passengers and for fastjet operations are sold seats flown, in both cases excluding infants.  Fastjet bookings are generally non-refundable whereas 540 bookings are in some circumstances refundable.

3.    "Load Factor" is the number of 'passengers" as a percentage of the number of available seats flown. 

4.    "fastjet Operations" includes only statistics for Fastjet Tanzania operations which commenced on 29^th November 2012

5.    "on time" - arrival earlier than or within 15 minutes of schedule

UK media - Citigate Dewe Rogerson                                                      Tel: [phone]

Toby Moore

Eleni Menikou

South African media - Tribeca Public Relations                                 Tel: [phone]

Cian Mac Eochaidh

Kelly Webster

For investor enquiries please contact:

W.H. Ireland Ltd.                                                                                           Tel: [phone]

James Joyce

Nick Field

NOTES TO EDITORS

About fastjet plc

fastjet plc is the holding company of the low cost airline fastjet which commenced flights under the fastjet brand in Tanzania in November 2012.  The airline introduced Airbus A319s into its fleet.  By adhering to international standards of safety, quality, security and reliability; fastjet has brought a new flying experience to the African market at unprecedented low prices. fastjet is implementing the low-cost model across Africa and its long-term strategy is to become the continent's first low-cost, pan-African airline.  fastjet plc is also the holding company of Fly540, which operates in Kenya, Ghana and Angola.

The results of a recent customer satisfaction survey showed that 100% of customers were likely to recommend fastjet to a friend. In developing its strong brand and identity, fastjet has won and been nominated for a number of awards, including winning three Transform awards for the rebrand and launch of fastjet and the award for "Brand Strategy of the Year" at the recent Drum Marketing Awards in London.

fastjet plc is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market.

For more information see www.fastjet.com 

 

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