Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
LACK of jet fuel at Songwe International Airport has made several airlines fail to fly to Mbeya, while those managing to ply the route, charge higher fares.
FastJet said categorically that though it wants to fly to Mbeya, it has failed to implement the plan due to lack of fuel. The low cost carrier said since it maximizes on passengers numbers on board to lower a seat costs per route, carrying fuel from Dar es Salaam make the route unprofitable.
FastJet's Director for Africa, Mr Kyle Haywood said carrying fuel from Dar increases the weight load of the aircraft, thus reduce the number of passengers and cargo on board.
"We can fly even tomorrow, but refuel remains a major challenge," Mr Haywood who is based in Dar es Salaam said, "if we reduce the number of passengers we have to increase the fare."
Our intention to fly to Mbeya is still there.We hope the authority will sort the matter in the near future," the Director said during a recently press conference. Precision Air (PW), the largest carrier, is flying to Mbeya using ATR 72, with capacity to carry 70 passengers, but ferries only 50 passengers due of carrying extra fuel to make a return trip possible.
The PW frequency, established in mid January, attracted a number of passengers to force the airline to introduce daily flights instead of three times a week to cater for increased demand. The daily flights followed the PW experience of full-board per every flight in either way since the launch of the service.
The airline Head of Marketing and Branding, Ms Linda Chiza, said the firm will continue deploying the ATR equipment at the Songwe airport, despite the fact that it could handle the route using Boeing 737-300. Aviation analysts said the flying hours and costs could be cut down considerably should the airlines deploy bigger aircraft that would fly less hours and reduce costs per seat, but fuel remains a major constraint.
"The same challenge engulfs Songea Airport. It has a magnificent and long runway to support bigger planes, but no airlines fly there as there is no fuel at the airport," the analyst said. Effort to contact the Tanzania Airport Authority (TAA) acting Director General, Suleiman Said Suleiman for the last two days to shed lights on providing fuel at the two airports failed after his mobile phone went unanswered.
However, reports reaching this paper recently indicate that TAA has invited investors to venture into construction and supplying aviation fuel at Songwe.
The benefit of flying bigger machines have started to bear fruit since Precision Air's inaugural flight to Mbeya that ushered in competition to compel other players that flies less than 20 passengers equipment to match or going below the country's biggest carrier air fare. The prices per return ticket was over 500,000/- but dropped to match PW of 249,000/-.
"This is healthy for passengers and the aviation industry as a whole, since the beneficiaries are consumers of the said services," Mr Manongi told the 'Daily News' recently. The fare is also set to go down when bigger aircraft like Boeing 737 or A319 that capitalise on the economies of scale will start flying to Songwe Airport.
Tanzania
Kili Faces Acute Shortage of Primary, Secondary Teachers
KILIMANJARO Region is facing an acute shortage of 1,332 primary school teachers and 1,256 secondary school teachers, see more »
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/biz/15088-lack-of-fuel-at-songwe-frustrates-airlines
MY TAKE
Hivi wajameni Mbeya nzimaa na hata mikoa jirani, hamna mtu binafsi anayeweza kumudu kutoa huduma ya mafuta hapo Songwe Airport? Au ndiyo ile kasumba ya kuwa uwanja haukupaswa kujengwa Mbeya bali Mwanza inaanza kutimia? mradi wa tembo mweupe sio? wakina Mwandosya naomba watueleze hapa!
FastJet said categorically that though it wants to fly to Mbeya, it has failed to implement the plan due to lack of fuel. The low cost carrier said since it maximizes on passengers numbers on board to lower a seat costs per route, carrying fuel from Dar es Salaam make the route unprofitable.
FastJet's Director for Africa, Mr Kyle Haywood said carrying fuel from Dar increases the weight load of the aircraft, thus reduce the number of passengers and cargo on board.
"We can fly even tomorrow, but refuel remains a major challenge," Mr Haywood who is based in Dar es Salaam said, "if we reduce the number of passengers we have to increase the fare."
Our intention to fly to Mbeya is still there.We hope the authority will sort the matter in the near future," the Director said during a recently press conference. Precision Air (PW), the largest carrier, is flying to Mbeya using ATR 72, with capacity to carry 70 passengers, but ferries only 50 passengers due of carrying extra fuel to make a return trip possible.
The PW frequency, established in mid January, attracted a number of passengers to force the airline to introduce daily flights instead of three times a week to cater for increased demand. The daily flights followed the PW experience of full-board per every flight in either way since the launch of the service.
The airline Head of Marketing and Branding, Ms Linda Chiza, said the firm will continue deploying the ATR equipment at the Songwe airport, despite the fact that it could handle the route using Boeing 737-300. Aviation analysts said the flying hours and costs could be cut down considerably should the airlines deploy bigger aircraft that would fly less hours and reduce costs per seat, but fuel remains a major constraint.
"The same challenge engulfs Songea Airport. It has a magnificent and long runway to support bigger planes, but no airlines fly there as there is no fuel at the airport," the analyst said. Effort to contact the Tanzania Airport Authority (TAA) acting Director General, Suleiman Said Suleiman for the last two days to shed lights on providing fuel at the two airports failed after his mobile phone went unanswered.
However, reports reaching this paper recently indicate that TAA has invited investors to venture into construction and supplying aviation fuel at Songwe.
The benefit of flying bigger machines have started to bear fruit since Precision Air's inaugural flight to Mbeya that ushered in competition to compel other players that flies less than 20 passengers equipment to match or going below the country's biggest carrier air fare. The prices per return ticket was over 500,000/- but dropped to match PW of 249,000/-.
"This is healthy for passengers and the aviation industry as a whole, since the beneficiaries are consumers of the said services," Mr Manongi told the 'Daily News' recently. The fare is also set to go down when bigger aircraft like Boeing 737 or A319 that capitalise on the economies of scale will start flying to Songwe Airport.
Tanzania
Kili Faces Acute Shortage of Primary, Secondary Teachers
KILIMANJARO Region is facing an acute shortage of 1,332 primary school teachers and 1,256 secondary school teachers, see more »
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/biz/15088-lack-of-fuel-at-songwe-frustrates-airlines
MY TAKE
Hivi wajameni Mbeya nzimaa na hata mikoa jirani, hamna mtu binafsi anayeweza kumudu kutoa huduma ya mafuta hapo Songwe Airport? Au ndiyo ile kasumba ya kuwa uwanja haukupaswa kujengwa Mbeya bali Mwanza inaanza kutimia? mradi wa tembo mweupe sio? wakina Mwandosya naomba watueleze hapa!
