fastjet and Tigo Tanzania have today confirmed a new partnership to offer mobile payments for fastjet tickets via Tigo Pesa.

Speaking about the launch, fastjet chief commercial officer Richard Bodin said: “We continue to innovate at fastjet. After the incredible success of our initial mobile phone payment channel, we have been working hard with Tigo to bring this highly popular service to Tanzania’s consumers.”

“Over 25 per cent of our customers pay through their mobile phones and with the launch of the Tigo service, we expect this to grow substantially.

“This, coupled with our recent introduction of credit and debit card payments, really does mean that our customers have all options available to them through which to purchase tickets.”

“We have delivered on our promise of offering an easy and convenient way to buy fastjet tickets.

“We have made air travel accessible for the population of and visitors to Tanzania and are rightly proud of the fact that we now dominate the market on the routes we operate.

“We have shown that fastjet offers affordable tickets and safe, reliable services.”

Africa is now the second-largest mobile market in the world, with more than 620 million mobile users.

Over the past ten years, the number of mobile connections in Africa has grown an average of 30 per cent per year and is forecast to reach 735 million by the end of 2013.

At the same time, demand for improved travel and transport solutions is also growing across the continent, in line with the continued economic expansion. 

With over one billion people, the African aviation market is significantly underserved – a need that fastjet is committed to serving.

Tigo Tanzania general manager, Diego Gutierrez, added: “Tigo has grown substantially in recent times and sees this link with fastjet as a fantastic opportunity to offer increased services to our 6 million customers.

“Being the most innovative telecom operator in Tanzania, our aim is to provide affordable communication solutions that will constantly improve lives. 

“This partnership with fastjet is further evidence of the innovation and convenience we provide to our customers. 

“We are proud that Tigo Pesa will provide fastjet’s passengers with a convenient payment solution.”