African budget airline start-up FastJet is to establish its first operating base at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
The airline, which has backing from easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, aims to start flying in November.
Fares will start at $20 one-way excluding taxes and charges.
The lease for FastJet’s first Airbus A319 aircraft has been signed with lessor BBAM and will arrive in Dar es Salaam next month.
Recruitment for crew and ground staff is already “well advanced”.
Once established in East Africa, FastJet plans to launch in Accra, Ghana and Luanda and Angola.
FastJet chief executive Ed Winter said: “Our initial focus will be on East Africa with the airline’s first base at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the A319 aircraft has already been approved by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority.
“This will be followed by a second base in Nairobi, Kenya, once the A319 is approved there.
“We look forward to bringing a great, reliable and affordable service to the people of East Africa.”
FastJet is the holding company for African airline Fly540, which operates from bases in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Angola. Fly540 currently has 10 aircraft serving 25 destinations, carrying around 750,000 passengers a year.