Two new routes – Dar es Salaam to Nairobi, and Kilimanjaro to Nairobi, will go on sale from today.

One way fares will begin from $80 and $50 respectively, the airline said.

The airline will begin flying the daily routes from January 11 2016. Flights between Zanzibar and Nairobi and Dar es Salaam and Mombasa are also expected to be added to the network later in 2016, fastjet said.

Chief executive Ed Winter said: “To date, passenger traffic between the major cities of Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, which have a combined population of over 8 million people, has been limited by high air fares which we believe, have excluded large parts of the local population from air travel.

“The only alternative to flying is to undertake a long and difficult journey by road, which can take up to 12 hours. As has been the case with other routes that we have launched, we expect to stimulate the market as passengers embrace fastjet’s great value, safe, reliable flights and move from road to the air.
 
“Nairobi and Dar es Salaam are not only key travel destinations, and two of the busiest airports in the region, but also hubs with extensive regional and international networks.  Expanding the network into Kenya marks an important milestone in fastjet’s strategic development and is a significant achievement for the Company, its staff and shareholders.”