| Wed 19 Sep 2007, 15:49 | | LAF - Lonrho Africa - Fly540 Awarded `Internationa |
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LAF
LOLAF
LAF - Lonrho Africa - Fly540 Awarded `International Designation` And To Commence
Flights To The DRC And Southern Sudan With Further Additions To Fleet
Lonrho Plc
(Formerly 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 AWARDED `INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATION` AND TO COMMENCE FLIGHTS TO THE DRC
AND SOUTHERN SUDAN WITH FURTHER ADDITIONS TO FLEET
Lonrho (AIM:LONR), the conglomerate with a structured portfolio of African
investments, is pleased to announce that the Kenyan airline, Fly540 Aviation, in
which Lonrho has a 49% shareholding, has been granted `partial international
designation` rights by the Kenyan Government permitting the airline to
immediately start flights to Southern Sudan and the DRC
This coveted designation has been granted in recognition of Fly540 becoming the
second largest airline in Kenya with passenger loads for August of 16,000
domestic passengers and achieving 84% load capacity and on time departures at
93%.
Fly540 is now establishing regular scheduled passenger services to Juba in
Southern Sudan and Goma in Democratic Republic of the Congo to commence from the
13th October.
The Juba route will link into the Fly540`s planned Southern Sudan operations and
provides a launching pad to allow Fly540 to establish scheduled services within
the country of Southern Sudan thereby replicating the successful Fly540 Kenya
model.
The Goma route is regarded as strategic as no commercial carrier provides
scheduled service links to Goma from Nairobi. Fly540 expects this to be a high
yield route that will assist the movement of business trade and Aid providers in
the region.
Fleet Expansion
To take advantage of the newly acquired international designation, Fly 540 has
signed on another ATR42-320 to service these new routes.
Goma and Juba are strategic growth areas in Central Africa and provide some of
the highest yields in the region. The ATR passenger fleet is idea for these
sectors due to their efficiency, reliability and range.
Fly540 has also signed for delivery of a F27 Freighter aircraft to service this
growing market in both Southern Sudan and Somalia. With the new international
licence, Fly540 can take advantage of the large inflow of freight and aid into
these regions. This is the first of three freighters scheduled to join the 540
fleet over the next six months.
David Lenigas, Lonrho Executive Chairman and CEO commented:
"Fly540 launched its first flight in November 2006 and has made significant
progress and now provides regular scheduled services to seven destinations in
Kenya. The granting of international designation status by the Kenyan Government
is a substantive step forward for Fly540 and will allow the airline to expand
into neighbouring counties. New services to the DRC and Southern Sudan in
October will greatly assist business travellers and help Aid organisations to
these destinations."
ENQUIRIES
Lonrho Plc +44 (0) 20 7016 5105
David Lenigas, Chief Executive +44 (0)7881 825 378
Emma Priestley, Executive Director +44 (0)7867 785 177
Pelham PR
Charles Vivian +44 (0) 20 7743 6672
+44 (0) 7977 297903
Alisdair Haythornthwaite +44 (0) 20 7743 6676
+44 (0) 7714 721379
Collins Stewart Europe
Hugh Field +44 (0) 20 7523 8350
Jonny Sloan
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Fly540
Fly540 introduced its first service from Nairobi to Mombasa on 24th November,
2006 and is well received by both business and leisure travellers. The airline
now has regular services from Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu and Kisumu,
Eldoret and the Mara and is the largest domestic low budget air carrier in East
Africa.
About LONRHO:
Lonrho Plc is an expanding conglomerate that is rapidly growing a successful
business throughout Africa. The Company is listed on the London AIM stock
exchange (LONR). Lonrho is strategically focused on the development of business
opportunities in infrastructure, transportation, support services and natural
resources. The Company has over 20,000 shareholders and substantial
institutional backing to support its mandate to build a profitable business that
plays a fundamental role in the development of the African economy.
Since 2006, the Company has invested in or acquired control of:
Hotel Cardoso - www.hotelcardoso.co.mz (retained)
Nare Diamonds - www.narediamonds.com
Luba Freeport - www.lubafreeport.com
Fly540 - www.fly540.com
Norse Air - www.norseair.co.za
Swissta Holdings - www.swissta.com
SA Independent Liner Services
19 September 2007
South African sponsor to Lonrho Africa Plc
Java Capital (Proprietary) Limited
Date: 19/09/2007 15:49:11 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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