After a postponement last month (see story here), fastjet’s inaugural international flight landed at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport from Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport today.
“Today is a further step in the transformation of the African aviation sector from its current high-cost, protected, and monopolistic business model to an industry in which fair competition in passengers’ best interests becomes the norm,” said Kyle Haywood, General Manager Africa for fastjet.
Flights between the two cities will initially be operated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing Tanzania at 09h15, and landing in SA at 11h45, with a flight time of three-and-a-half hours. The return flight from Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam departs at 12h45, and lands at 17h10. Dar es Salaam is one hour ahead of Johannesburg.
Tickets between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam are priced from $160 one way, inclusive of all airport and government taxes, which are approximately $55.
Passengers may take one item of hand luggage onto their flight at no charge, with any additional items of luggage checked into the hold attracting a pre-paid one-way charge of $11 per item.
South African passport holders do not need a visa to visit Tanzania if they intend staying for 90 days or less, and the same is true of Tanzanian passport holders visiting South Africa. However, a current yellow fever vaccination certificate is required when entering both Tanzania and South Africa on flights from each country.