Fastjet to cut staff, swap out A319s for E190s in Turnaround plan.

The low cost carrier, fastjet, has issued a letter to all employees notifying them of the compulsory redundancies aiming to align the number of staff with the revised structure and reduction from three to one fastjet operated aircraft.

"As part of its strategic turnaround plan, fastjet Airlines Ltd (the Company) has started the process of making organisational and operational changes. As a result of these changes the company has decided to restructure its organisation and reduce the size of the fastjet operated fleet supplemented by wet leased aircraft," reads part of the letter.

The company has considered ways in which it may be able to avoid making compulsory redundancies, but after careful consideration of all possible options it does not at present appear to be anything that can reasonably be done to avoid the need to make a number of redundancies.

“The redundancy plan is expected to take effect as from 20^th September 2016”, reads the letter.

On the other side more details are emerging about the anticipated fleet change by Fastjet.

News reports that fastjet will swap out some of its all-Airbus A319 fleet for wet-leased Embraer E190s, in its Tanzania and Zimbabwe subsidiaries.

According to information from various sources, it seems that the airline will start using Embraer jets in November, 2016.

The new schedule on Tanzania‘s domestic routes shows that fastjet uses E190 all-economy seat layout.

It seems that the overall fleet in Tanzania will comprise of three aircraft - one remaining Airbus A319 and two leased Embraer E190s. And in Zimbabwe the Airbus A319 will also be replaced by an Embraer E190.