Founder of easyJet Stelios Haji-loannou's easyGroup is setting up FastJet as a new budget African airline, which will serve Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Angola from October using leased Airbus A319s. In June easyGroup partnered with pan-African conglomerate Lonrho to create the low-cost carrier. Lonrho, owner of budget airline Fly540, sold its aviation business to investment firm Rubicon for $85.7 million, enabling it to establish FastJet. (EasyGroup owns 5% of Rubicon, while Lonrho has a 73.7% holding.) "Following completion, Rubicon will pursue a strategy of developing a low-cost African airline utilising the Lonrho Aviation route network and existing platforms," Lonrho said. "Under a licensing agreement with easyGroup, the airline will be branded FastJet and will use modem jet aircraft an'd operate to European standards." Ex-easyJet chief operating officer Ed Winter will become chief executive of FastJet, while Stelios has the right to be appointed to the Rubicon board as an easyGroup board representative. FastJet aims to carry around 12 million passengers per year using around 40 aircraft, and plans to start operations with five A319s and have 15 in service within one year.
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