fastjet has announced that it will commence daily flights to Zanzibar from Johannesburg on January in response to strong passenger and tour operator demand from within the South African market.

Services between Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport and Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport will operate using fastjet’s modern Airbus A319 jet aircraft with seating for up to 156 passengers.

Flights will depart Zanzibar at 09:30 and land in Johannesburg at 13:20, with the return flight from Johannesburg departing at 14:10 and landing in Zanzibar at 19:40.

The direct flights in both directions will involve a short 30 minute stopover in Dar es Salaam, but Zanzibar/Johannesburg passengers will not need to disembark the aircraft and all luggage will be checked directly through to its final destination.

fastjet’s lowest fares to Zanzibar from Johannesburg will be significantly cheaper than those charged by the only airline currently flying this route, who do so only twice a week. 

Previously, fastjet partnered with Dar es Salaam based Coastal Aviation, to fly passengers to Zanzibar, but flights were restricted to daylight flights, and involved transfers and luggage collection on the ground in Dar es Salaam.

“South African holiday makers wanting to fly to Zanzibar will now have a choice of departure days.

“There’s no more being restricted to starting your holiday on either a Tuesday or a Thursday, regardless of what works for your diary,” said Richard Bodin, chief commercial officer at fastjet.

“What’s more, paying less for flights means that holidaymakers now have the choice to perhaps upgrade their accommodation, or to take the whole family along instead of leaving the little ones at home with the grandparents,” he continued.