LAF
LOLAF
LAF - Lonrho Africa - Fly540, East Africa`s largest low cost airline
expands fleet with three new domestic routes in
Kenya
Lonrho Africa Plc
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales)
(Registration number 2805337)
(Share code: LAF; ISIN number: GB0002568813)
("Lonrho Africa" or "the Company")
FLY540, EAST AFRICA`S LARGEST LOW COST AIRLINE EXPANDS FLEET WITH THREE
NEW DOMESTIC ROUTES IN KENYA
Lonrho (AIM: LAF), the pan-African company with infrastructure assets in
Africa, is pleased to announce that Fly540, the low cost airline based in
Nairobi in which the Company holds a 49% interest, is expanding its fleet
with two additional aircraft.
Two Dash 8-100 turbo prop aircraft are expected to arrive in May 2007 and
significantly increase the capacity of the fleet allowing for new
domestic routes to Loki, Wajir and Mandera, in Kenya.
The Canadian manufactured Dash 8-100 turbo prop aircraft, which carries
37 passengers, has an excellent safety history and is extremely popular
with low cost airlines around the world due to low operating costs
resulting in a significantly lower break-even point. Fly540`s turbo prop
aircraft are far more fuel efficient than jets, allowing Fly540 to offer
low budget fares, filling a large gap in the Kenyan market for affordable
no frills air travel.
Last month Fly540 carried over 10,000 passengers demonstrating the demand
for low budget air travel in East Africa and the potential that this
market offers. The rapidly increasing demand for such services makes this
a high growth area of business aligning it with Lonrho`s renewed
strategic focus.
David Lenigas, Lonrho`s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive,
commented:
"We are very pleased with the addition of the two Dash 8-100`s. This adds
a lot of value to the existing fleet and is a significant step towards
expanding to regional destinations outside Kenya in the near future.
The direction Fly540 has taken significantly strengthens Lonrho`s
position and strategy aimed at enhancing infrastructure and related
services in Africa through investments in these high growth sectors. It
is our intention to provide low cost value for money air travel in Kenya
and the region, and Fly540 have been instrumental in allowing this to
happen."
9 May 2007
South African sponsor to Lonrho Africa Plc
Java Capital (Proprietary) Limited
Date: 09/05/2007 13:18:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
Profile Group (Pty) Ltd. has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information.
