What Fastjet does

Fastjet is a privately held regional low-cost airline headquartered at R.G. Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe, operating scheduled passenger flights within Zimbabwe (Harare, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, plus Hwange National Park and Kariba) and to South Africa (Johannesburg OR Tambo, Nelspruit/Kruger Mpumalanga), with a new FlyNamibia interline partnership extending the network to Windhoek from November 2025. The airline operates a single fleet type — Embraer ERJ145 regional jets — and is IOSA-certified (renewed 2024 and 2026), supporting a distribution stack that combines a self-serve website and mobile app, a call center, a travel-agent portal, and an unusually deep local payment network in Zimbabwe spanning CBZ bank branches, Chicken Inn retail stores, and ZimSwitch. Its product architecture is structured around three published fare tiers (Value, Value Flex, Value Plus) with FlexiGo same-day change options, multi-currency pricing across USD, ZAR, ZWG, BWP, ZMW, MZN, GBP and EUR, and a layered ancillary revenue stream (checked baggage, seat selection, excess weight, unaccompanied-minor service, sporting rifle transport). The customer base is overwhelmingly consumer-led — leisure and tourism travelers (notably to Victoria Falls and safari corridors) with a secondary business-travel segment between Harare and Johannesburg — and revenue is monetized through one-time ticket sales and per-transaction ancillary fees, with no disclosed subscription or enterprise-contract layer.

Name

Fastjet

Legal name

fastjet Zimbabwe Limited

Website

https://fastjet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fastjet is a privately held, Zimbabwe-based regional low-cost carrier operating scheduled Embraer ERJ145 flights across Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia, serving leisure tourism and cross-border business travelers through a three-tier fare system and multi-channel distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Airline Services

NAICS

Scheduled Air Transportation (4811), Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Low-Cost Regional/Short-Haul Carriers (THABABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional Jet (RJ) Operators (THABACAK), Thin-Route / Rural Community Regional Airlines (THABACAI)

Keywords

• Regional airline services
• Low-cost carrier
• Passenger air travel
• Fare booking services
• In-flight services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bedfordview

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Airline Ticket Sales: Core revenue from passenger ticket sales across domestic and international routes in Southern Africa. Fares range from approximately USD 108 to USD 523 depending on route and demand.
2. Ancillary Services: Additional revenue from checked baggage fees (USD 40 per extra piece), seat selection fees (USD 8-12), excess baggage weight charges (USD 10 per kg), sporting rifle transportation (USD 40), and unaccompanied minor service fees (USD 80).
3. Fare Upgrades: Revenue from fare upgrades allowing customers to upgrade from Value to Value Flex or Value Plus tiers, and from Value Flex to Value Plus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fastjet is a regional low-cost airline operating scheduled passenger flights across Southern Africa, primarily connecting Zimbabwean cities (Harare, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo) with South African destinations (Johannesburg, Nelspruit/Kruger Mpumalanga) and now Namibia via FlyNamibia partnership. The airline operates a modern fleet of Embraer ERJ145 regional jets and offers three fare tiers (Value, Value Flex, Value Plus) with bundled baggage, seat selection, and ancillary services.

Product overview

Fastjet is a regional low-cost airline operating across Southern Africa with a hub in Zimbabwe. The core product is the airline service offering flights between Zimbabwe (Harare, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo) and South Africa (Johannesburg, Nelspruit/Kruger Mpumalanga). Fastjet's fare architecture comprises three tiers: Value Fares (basic with fee-based changes), Value Flex Fares (penalty-free changes), and Value Plus Fares (premium with 2 bags, lounge access, refunds). Supporting services include FlexiGo (flexibility options), the Fastjet Mobile App (booking and check-in), Travel Agent Portal, Online Check-In, Junior Explorer unaccompanied minor service, extra baggage, seat selection, and Book Now & Pay Later payment options. The company also partners with Avis for car rental integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fastjet Airline Service Core scheduled passenger airline service operating regional flights across Southern Africa, including routes between Harare, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Johannesburg, and Nelspruit/Kruger Mpumalanga, using a modern Embraer ERJ145 regional jet fleet. Targeted at leisure, business, and domestic travelers.
• Value Fares Entry-level economy fare option including 1x23kg checked bag, 1x7kg cabin bag, complimentary light snack and beverage, with flight changes permitted subject to fees. Non-refundable. Fares start from USD 108.31 for Victoria Falls routes.
• Value Flex Fares Mid-tier fare option offering unlimited penalty-free changes (fare differences apply), with 1x23kg checked bag, 1x7kg cabin bag, and complimentary services. Can be upgraded to Value Plus.
• Value Plus Fares Premium fare option with 2x32kg checked bags, free seat selection, dedicated check-in, airport lounge access for international flights, and refundable ticket (with admin fee).
• Fastjet Mobile App
• Travel Agent Portal Online portal for IATA and ZTA licensed travel agents to manage bookings, access booking tools, and handle reservations for clients. Supports multi-currency booking (USD, ZAR) and group booking capabilities.
• Online Check-In Self-service online check-in service available from 24 hours to 3 hours before departure, with digital boarding pass delivered via email or mobile app for Johannesburg departures.
• Junior Explorer (Unaccompanied Minor Service) Mandatory service for children aged 5-12 years traveling alone on domestic flights, including airport escort by fastjet staff and in-flight care. Fee: USD 80 per flight.
• Book Now & Pay Later Payment option allowing customers to hold fare and pay later for a small fee, with various payment channels including CBZ bank branches, Chicken Inn stores, and ZimSwitch.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 consecutive years of operations since October 2015
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FlyNamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Partnership announced November 2025 to offer new regional flights connecting Windhoek, Victoria Falls, and Harare beginning 1 November 2025. Collaboration aims to enhance regional air connectivity and support tourism and business between Zimbabwe and Namibia.
• Chicken InncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayment channel partnership launched in July 2021 allowing customers to pay for flight bookings at Chicken Inn stores in Zimbabwe, expanding local payment options.
• Econet Victoria Falls MarathonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial airline partner for the annual Victoria Falls Marathon event, promoting sports tourism and regional connectivity.
• ADMA Agricultural ShowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial airline partner for the ADMA Agricultural Show, supporting agribusiness tourism and regional events.
• Ele-CollectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership to combat plastic pollution in Victoria Falls, supporting sustainability initiatives in tourism destinations.
• Chamabondo Primary SchoolminorOthersPartnership supporting education and future generation development at Chamabondo Primary School in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
• AvisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCar rental partnership allowing fastjet customers to book Avis vehicles through the fastjet website, integrated ancillary service for complete travel solutions.
• CBZ BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayment partnership enabling customers to pay flight bookings at CBZ bank branches across Zimbabwe for Book Now Pay Later option.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FlySafair: South Africa's largest low-cost carrier operating domestic and regional routes with Boeing 737 fleet. Directly comparable as a Southern Africa LCC competing for price-sensitive leisure and corporate travelers on overlapping corridors.
• CemAir: South African regional carrier operating scheduled passenger services on thin and regional routes using regional jets. Directly comparable on regional-jet fleet type, scheduled operations, and Southern Africa route geography.
• Air Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's flag carrier operating scheduled domestic and regional flights from Harare. Directly comparable as a same-country competitor serving Harare hub and overlapping tourism routes including Victoria Falls.
• FlyNamibia: Namibian regional carrier now partnered with Fastjet for Windhoek–Victoria Falls–Harare service. Directly comparable as a regional Southern Africa LCC partner/competitor with overlapping interline dynamics.
• Airlink: South African regional scheduled carrier with the largest intra-African regional network. Directly comparable as a competitor operating regional aircraft on Southern Africa routes including into Victoria Falls and Johannesburg.

Broad incumbents

• South African Airways: South Africa's flag carrier offering scheduled full-service and regional flights including the Harare–Johannesburg trunk. Comparable as the dominant full-service incumbent competing for corporate and connecting traffic on Fastjet's core route.
• Kenya Airways: East African flag carrier with a pan-African and intercontinental network. Comparable as an African scheduled carrier operating regional jet routes, though at a significantly larger scale and different geographic focus.
• Ethiopian Airlines: Africa's largest scheduled carrier with an extensive intra-African network including connections to Southern Africa. Comparable as a broad incumbent connecting passengers across the continent via interline partnerships.

Regional players

• RwandAir: Rwandan flag carrier with growing intra-African network. Comparable as another African regional scheduled carrier pursuing hub-and-spoke connectivity across the continent, though operating from a different geography.

Others

• Avis Budget Group: Global car rental company partnered with Fastjet for integrated ground transport. Comparable as a distribution and ancillary-services partner rather than direct competitor, illustrating the type of ecosystem tie-up that drives bundled travel revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fastjet
• Facebookfacebook.com/fastjet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fastjet
• Instagraminstagram.com/fastjetofficial/?hl=en

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fastjet