Fastjet Group could use sister company Solenta Aviation‘s existing air operator certificates (AOCs) in Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire as a springboard for a future West African expansion, although no plans have yet been made, according to director of group strategy and development, Julian Edmunds.
Responding to a query from ch-aviation following a local media report, Edmunds clarified that he was not announcing a market entry, but noting that Solenta’s existing regulatory presence would make the two countries “obvious places” to evaluate should Fastjet decide to expand its franchise model into West Africa.
“I was merely stating that Solenta has AOCs in Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire, and they would be obvious places for us to start as and when we decide to evaluate a West African expansion,” he said.
This follows remarks in March 2026 by Group CEO Kirsten King, who told ch-aviation that the company expects to launch its first new franchise in West Africa within six months through an existing AOC holder, rather than expanding solely through its own airlines.
Fastjet Group currently includes Fastjet Zimbabwe, charter carrier Federal Airlines (South Africa), and the UK holding company, Fastjet Limited. The Fastjet Mozambique brand is pending a relaunch under a franchise agreement with AOC-holder Solenta Aviation Mozambique, whose charter license was expanded to include scheduled services late last year, albeit to operate from Beira rather than from Maputo as initially planned.
Solenta has four active AOCs in Africa, including South Africa, Mozambique, Solenta Aviation Gabon, and Solenta Aviation Côte d’Ivoire, while Solenta Aviation Ghana and Solenta Aviation Kenya are dormant. Solenta Aviation Holdings holds an 81% shareholding in Fastjet Group.
