IN a bid to increase convenience to frequent fliers, low-cost pan-African airline fastjet has introduced a multi-flight programme that allows frequent flyers to purchase 10 one-way flights at a fixed price inclusive of taxes and fees.
The ‘FlexTrip’ solution, as they have coined the programme, seeks to provide flexibility as flights can be booked up to six hours before departure time and is valid for travel within a year of purchase, subject to flight availability. 
“fastjet has responded to the needs of its frequent fliers, many who have last-minute business meeting requests or spontaneously want to visit family and friends throughout the year,” says Nico Bezuidenhout, CEO of fastjet.
The 10 flights can be used by any of the three passengers nominated at the time of making the booking, allowing passengers the choice of who can benefit from the bundle flights.
FlexiTrip provides frequent travellers with affordability and savings benefits too as the 10 flights are paid for in advance at a fixed price, which will not fluctuate in future.
The FlexiTrip package is available for domestic flights in Zimbabwe between Harare and Victoria Falls at a cost of USD750, including taxes and fees.
The option is also available on international flights from either Harare or Victoria Falls to Johannesburg in South Africa for USD1 500 inclusive of two free check-in bags per flight, taxes and fees.
“This added service offering makes it possible for our frequent fliers to plan regular trips more efficiently and also budget better due to the fixed ticket price,” said Bezuidenhout.
Additional services from fastjet include freight, a baggage upgrade option that allows its international route passengers to transport up to 80kg of checked in bags, being able to pre-book preferred seats, rent a car, book accommodation and pre-book airport parking, among other services.
The company, looking to boost its operations through a fresh capital-raising exercise, has also announced the resignation of non-executive chairman, Colin Child.
fastjet chief executive, Bezuidenhout, will assume the vacant post and handle both positions until a replacement is appointed.
With the traditionally lucrative festive season beckoning, fastjet executives are anticipating a surge in the volumes of travellers between Zimbabwe, Tanzania and South Africa to drive revenue generation.
“The remaining routes within Zimbabwe and Tanzania and between these countries and South Africa, are all projected to positively contribute to fixed cost during December 2016,” it said.
fastjet’s new offer will no doubt be welcome as business travel on the African continent is on the rise.
More and more airlines are announcing flight routes to, from and between countries on the continent while several airlines are showing increased interest in Zimbabwe.
Ethiopia Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, will start flying into Victoria Falls in April next year while Rwanda Air will fly into Harare in early January.
Other airlines too have shown interest in the African Open Skies initiative which aims to make travel on the African continent more fluid and simple.
The recently signed Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-lateral Air Services Agreement during the inaugural Bi-National Commission between the two neighbours is an example.
The agreement is meant to open air space and increase air flight frequency.
In terms of the agreement, each airline will now enjoy as many as 85 flying frequencies into each other’s territory per week .
Furthermore, Victoria Falls airport was expanded, doubling visitor-capacity at one of the world’s most famous attractions.
The airport will be able to welcome
500 000 more passengers, adding up to 1,8 million a year.