African low cost airline, fastjet airline, has received an Air Service Permit (ASP) from the Zambian authorities, a major step made towards naming Zambia its second African hub. Tanzania, an emerging East African economy, is the only listed hub for the budget airline.

The Air Service Permit signifies that Zambian authorities have approved Fastjet’s business plan, aircraft choice and proposed structure. It also means that fastjet will be allowed to operate domestic and international flights from Zambia.

The fastjet Zambia team will now submit the necessary documents and manuals to complete the application process for an Air Operating Certificate (AOC). The certificate grants the airline the freedom to commence commercial flight locally.

“The timescales before the first flight will depend on how quickly the authorities take to review the AOC application documents,” said Ed Winter, Fastjet’s CEO and Interim Chairman.

The airline has also received permission from Uganda to fly from the country to Juba, Nairobi, Kigali and Johannesburg under “5thFreedom” rights using Tanzanian based aircraft. The 5th Freedom rights present a fantastic opportunity to increase the Tanzanian network, increasing aircraft utilisation and also establishing the Fastjet brand in Uganda without the immediate establishment of a full Ugandan base, Ed Winter added.

Following the issuance of the permit, the airline said it had initiated talks with potential investors to obtain additional funding. The fund is required to develop its air services in Zambia. It will also be used to expand its business in other African nations where it has operations including Uganda. It hopes to secure the necessary funding by the first quarter of 2015.