Fastjet impressed with maiden month

Fastjet, Africa's first low-cost airline, said passenger figures from its first month in the air demonstrated the latent demand for low cost reliable air travel on the continent.

Chief Executive Ed Winter said that concerns over infrastructure had proved unfounded with no scheduled Fastjet flights cancelled and 99.6 % arriving within 15 minutes of schedule.

The airline said its Tanzania operation carried 29,547 passengers in December, representing a load factor of 78.9%.

The company's Chairman recently announced he would take an annual salary of just one pound.

David Lenigas said he was making the move "to help make a difference to Africa's future growth prospects".