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| Precision Air Chief, Sauda Rajab speaks at the airline’s annual general meeting in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. With her is the Group Chairman and Founder, Michael Shirima. |
Ms Sauda Rajab, Precision Air Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said on Wednesday that the company was still implementing its five-year strategic plan that led to grounding of large aircraft, Boeing 737-300 which were used to operate long routes including international trips.
The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange-listed airline reduced the number of aircraft from 12 to nine to phase out the costly fleet, a move that affected some routes including flights to Johannesburg, Lusaka and Comoros while the Nairobi route is served by Kenya Airways.
“Our aim is to increase partnerships with other airlines. Currently, we are talking with Rwandair and Air Seychelles for some of our international routes,” said Ms Rajab at the annual general meeting on Wednesday. Some of the local flight networks were also suspended including Dar es Salaam– Mbeya.
She said the airline was going through tough times, but things were improving faster than expected.
In the year ending March 31, 2014, Precision Air narrowed the loss to Sh12 billion from the Sh30 billion loss the previous year.
“We hope it will go down further but let’s wait for the results. There are many challenges facing us including competition and high charges at airports,” she said.
Precision Air chairman Michael Shirima hopes that the strategic plan which ends in 2017 will take back the airline to profitability.
“The turnaround and the five-year strategic plan are aimed at addressing inefficient network, costly fleet type, low productivity and un-optimised revenue opportunities, alongside efforts to pursue long-term capital for the business,” said Mr Shirima.
He said the airlineis s planning to reduce further the number of aircraft to six.
The Citizen
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