The Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has rejected an application for an Air Services Permit (ASP) filed by Fastjet Airline Ltd (Tanzania) t/a Fastjet (Dar es Salaam).
Speaking to The Citizen newspaper, TCAA Director General Hamza Johari said the dormant carrier had submitted an application to operate both domestic and international, scheduled and non-scheduled air services.
Domestically, it had sought to connect Dar es Salaam with Mwanza, Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, Arusha (via Zanzibar), and Tabora (via Kigoma) while internationally, it had sought route authorities to serve Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (South Africa), Lusaka (Zambia) via Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Kigali (Rwanda), Moroni International (Comoros), and Dubai (United Arab Emirates). However, the regulator’s board of directors decided during its May 18 sitting to defer the application to the next licensing meeting scheduled for November of this year.
“They submitted a business plan a day before a board meeting. As it stands we were not able to work on their application, so, they will have to wait until the next licensing meeting,” Johari said.
According to the DG, Fastjet had submitted a business plan which outlines, among other things, the airline’s future management structure as required by the regulator. Among the key requirements was the appointment of a credible accountable manager. Previously, the airline's chairman Lawrence Masha had attempted to appoint himself to the role.
On its financial standing, Johari said Fastjet has settled a debt of around TZS7 billion (USD3.028 million) owed to the TCAA, other service providers, and assorted creditors. However, it has yet to settle outstanding dues owed to staff, a matter that is still before the courts.
Masha has since told The Citizen that his team is in the process of resolving all outstanding matters ahead of November's hearing. Once an ASP has been secured, the carrier can then reapply for an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).
