Fastjet bets on Zimbabwe economic take-off

Fastjet Zimbabwe is deepening its investment in the country's aviation sector as it marks a decade of service, unveiling ambitious plans to expand into new domestic and regional routes.

Speaking at the airline's 10th-anniversary celebrations in Harare recently, country head Donahue Cortes announced that Fastjet intends to broaden its network beyond the traditional Harare–Bulawayo–Victoria Falls route to include Kariba, Masvingo, Buffalo Range in Chiredzi, and Grand Reef Airport in Mutare.

"Looking ahead, our commitment to Zimbabwe remains unwavering. While we currently serve the top three domestic cities, our ambitions do not stop there," Cortes said. "Through ongoing engagements with Mr Tawanda Gusha and the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ), we are encouraged by the development work taking place at Grand Reef, Kariba, Masvingo, and Buffalo Range. These destinations are firmly on our radar, and our route development team continues to explore the opportunities ahead."

The move signals a rare vote of confidence by a private airline in Zimbabwe's aviation sector. By linking more provincial cities to national and regional hubs, Fastjet aims to boost tourism, stimulate trade, and grow the domestic air travel market.

Since its launch in 2015 with a maiden flight between Harare and Victoria Falls aboard an Airbus A319 named Cecil the Lion, Fastjet has become one of southern Africa's most reliable low-cost carriers. Its fleet of Embraer ERJ145 jets currently connects Zimbabwean cities with regional destinations such as Johannesburg and Lusaka, transporting thousands of passengers annually and employing over 140 staff - most of them locals.

"I am profoundly proud to lead a team of over 140 remarkable individuals, more than 120 of whom are employed and working here in Zimbabwe. They are truly the heartbeat of our airline," Cortes said.

The airline's expansion comes amid government reforms to modernise the sector under the Civil Aviation Amendment Act of 2018, which separated the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe's regulatory role from the operational oversight of the ACZ.

Cortes said Fastjet sees "enormous potential" in Zimbabwe's secondary cities, noting that improved airport infrastructure and regional connectivity are key to unlocking the country's full economic and tourism potential.

Beyond Zimbabwe, Fastjet is also positioning itself for regional growth in line with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative, which promotes the liberalisation of African airspace to enhance competition and integration.

With its expansion strategy, Fastjet aims to cement its place as a key player in the region's aviation network while contributing to Zimbabwe's efforts to build a vibrant, connected, and modern air transport system.