Fastjet has announced the launch of its second international route from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Lusaka, Zambia.

The launch coincides with celebrations marking one year of flight operations from fastjet’s main hub at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere airport in Tanzania.

Despite strong trading between Tanzania and Zambia, driven in part by landlocked Zambia’s reliance on Dar es Salaam’s port, there is currently no direct air link between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka.

A steady increase in the onerous, 25 hour cross-border journeys undertaken by both Tanzanians and Zambians by road, demonstrates a real need for affordable air travel between the two countries, which fastjet intends to fulfil by launching its flights along this route.

Flights on fastjet’s new route, which will initially operate twice a week, are available to purchase from next week with fares starting as low as $75 (plus government charges and taxes), significantly lower than fares from operators offering non-direct flights between the two cities.

The first flight is scheduled to take place on 1st February 2014.

Commenting on the launch, Ed Winter, interim chairman and chief executive of fastjet said: “Building on the successes of the past year, the launch of our second international route to Lusaka moves fastjet further along the path to becoming a truly pan African carrier.

“We are incredibly pleased that, in accordance with our planned growth strategy, the roll-out of our international route network is now gaining real momentum and we are fulfilling our promise to the people of Africa to democratise air travel across the continent.

“We look forward to bringing the benefits of affordable, high-quality air travel to the people of Zambia.”