Emirates targets Kenya Airways with Fastjet partnership
Emirates Airlines is seeking a partnership with budget operator Fastjet in a move that will deepen its rivalry with Kenya Airways and boost the firm’s footprint on the continent.
The Middle East carrier is looking to connect the bulk of the continent’s travellers to the rest of the world through its Dubai hub with the budget airline feeding it with cargo and passengers in major cities like Nairobi, Dakar, and Luanda.
This has seen Emirates, which currently flies to 24 African destinations, increasingly seek a deal with Fastjet, which launched its operation in Tanzania on Thursday and has ambitions of becoming a Pan African carrier. “We are willing to work with Fastjet. It is an independent carrier and that makes our work easy,” said Mr Jean-Luc Grillet, Emirates senior vice-president in charge of commercial operations for Africa.
“We have strong experience with European budget carrier easyJet and are keenly following how they roll out in Africa,” said Mr Grillet. This will put it in a head-to-head battle with Kenya Airways, which draws half of its revenues from African routes and has hinged its strategy on connecting the continent to Asia and Europe through Nairobi.
EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Io is the brain behind Fastjet, which takes over operations of Fly540. The airline is positioning itself as Africa’s pan-continental budget airline, offering customers the lowest possible fares in addition to pay-as-you travel extras such as refreshments and entertainment. Kenya Airways has already secured a licence to operate its low-cost subsidiary, Jambo Jet, but is yet to launch operations. Emirates said that the partnership is motivated by Africa’s rapid economic growth and increased trade with Asian economies.