29th Aug 2014 09:01
LONDON (Alliance News) - Low-cost African airline fastjet PLC Friday launched a premium fare and a premium hold luggage package, part of a trend of low-cost airlines offering such services for an extra cost, although fastjet's reasoning for its new hold luggage package was highly relevant to the countries in which it operates.
Fastjet's new "SmartClass" premium fare package will allow passengers to upgrade to a fare starting at USD160 one way on domestic flights and USD450 on international routes in return for being able to choose seats in advance, an increased baggage allowance of up to 32 kilograms, and the ability to change flight dates as many times as needed at no extra cost.
The new fare, which excludes government taxes on tickets, is a big mark up from the airline's usual fare. When it launched flights between Tanzania and Zimbabwe earlier this month, it said tickets would start from as little as USD50 one-way, excluding taxes.
The new SmartClass service will start September 1.
"By creating SmartClass we can provide additional flexibility and quick disembarkation from the front rows" Chief Commercial Officer Richard Bodin said in a statement.
It has already started offering its new "freighty" service, which allows passengers to carry up to 80 kilogrammes of hold luggage for an extra USD80.
Fastjet said the move was designed for passengers who fly with fastjet to either collect or buy wholesale produce from the port and markets in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to sell in their home markets. It discovered traders were using fastjet to travel to Dar es Salaam, but using ground transportation to get back home, sometimes involving a bus journey taking several days.
Freighty is "a simple product enhancement, which is easy to administer and will allow passengers to benefit from the large capacity of our aircrafts" said Bodin.
Fastjet's move comes as low-cost carriers across Europe have started adding premium services to their basic offering in an attempt to attract more profitable business travelers. Ryanair Holdings PLC, Europe's largest low-cost airline, earlier this week said it will launch a new business class service offering features like premium seats, priority boarding and flexible tickets, an attempt to catch up with rival easyJet PLC which has seen a big increase in business travel since the financial crisis.
Fastjet shares were down 2.0% at 1.20 pence Friday morning.
By Joshua Warner; [email protected]; @joshalliance
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