Business Correspondent
Fastjet Zimbabwe (FN, Harare International) will extend the operation of its wet-leased A320-200 from Global Aviation Operations to the end of October 2026 following stronger-than-expected passenger demand, according to aviation industry publication ch-aviation.
The report said the aircraft also set to return for the December peak travel season.
The A320, registered ZS-GAC, was wet-leased from Global Aviation Operations and entered service with fastjet Zimbabwe on August 1. It was initially brought in to cater for increased demand during the August and September peak period.
The aircraft has been deployed primarily on the airline’s routes linking Harare with Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, as well as Victoria Falls and Johannesburg.
Fastjet Zimbabwe business chief executive officer and country head Donahue Cortes (pictured) said the extension would help the airline maintain adequate capacity during October and the December festive period.
Cortes also said the airline’s recently introduced Business Premium product had been well received by both corporate and leisure travellers.
The A320 deployment is also being used to assess whether the aircraft could become a permanent addition to fastjet Zimbabwe’s fleet from 2027.
The airline had previously indicated that the wet-lease arrangement would allow it to evaluate the A320’s suitability for its network before making a long-term fleet decision.
The larger aircraft has also reduced the need for fastjet Zimbabwe to source additional Embraer E145 capacity during the peak travel months. Fastjet Group chief executive officer Kirsten King previously indicated that larger Embraer aircraft were no longer under consideration.
The move comes as fastjet seeks to strengthen its position on the busy Harare-Johannesburg route, where it competes with FlySafair, South African Airways and Airlink.
Fastjet’s A320 offers significantly more seating capacity than the 50-seat E145 aircraft traditionally used by the airline, allowing the carrier to respond to periods of heightened demand without substantially increasing flight frequencies.
Fastjet itself confirmed the extension in a September 7 announcement, saying the Airbus A320 operation would now run through the end of December.
