London-based airline Fastjet has announced that it is currently negotiating the acquisition of the South African low cost airline, 1time Airline.
The negotiations, which are subject to Board, parent company, and Regulatory approval, would allow Fastjet to purchase 1time Airline from its parent company, 1time Holdings.
The proposed transaction would involve Fastjet paying a nominal fee for the purchase of 1time Airline and reaching a settlement with 1time's creditors.
In a statement released in Accra over the weekend, Ed Winter, Chief Executive Officer of Fastjet, said: "If this transaction goes ahead- and the timescales are extremely challenging - we would hope to get 1time flying again in time for the Christmas holiday period. Flights would initially be operated by a number of aircraft from the 1time fleet including McDonnell Douglas MD-82s, MD-83s and MD-87s, but restructuring plans would see a rapid re-fleeting with modern Airbus A319 aircraft."
It said "The acquisition of 1time would be a complementary strategic fit for Fastjet’s growth into a pan African low cost carrier and the synergies with Fastjet would potentially increase the number of available route networks from South Africa into the rest of Africa."
The statement said they were working with the South African authorities who, like Fastjet, were completely committed to helping the airline industry in South Africa develop for the benefit of all.
"Lower fares mean more economic growth, more jobs and more prosperity and we hope to keep many of the original 1time staff employed. With the co-operation of the shareholders of 1time we can build an airline that will provide a real choice to South Africans, based on the great reputation of 1time and the low cost experience of Fastjet," the statement said.
Fastjet is a London-based airline and a subsidiary of publically-listed company Lonrho. FastJet is the holding company for African airline Fly540, which operates from Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Angola.