A former Kenya Airways executive has been appointed general manager of Tanzania’s budget carrier Fastjet, signalling the airline’s intention to take on KQ’s low-cost rival JamboJet which is set for launch next month.

Mr Jimmy Kibati, who was the head of network planning at Kenya Airways, takes charge of Fastjet’s East Africa operations where he is expected to use his insider knowledge of KQ’s operations to match competition by JamboJet which is targeting price-sensitive air travellers in the region.

“Jimmy’s vast experience in the East African aviation market will be invaluable as we fulfil our goal of becoming a truly pan-African low cost airline,” said Fastjet interim chairman and chief executive Ed Winters in a statement.

Mr Kibati served as the acting commercial director of Kenya Airways for the whole of last year. He is expected to report to his new role, based in Dar-es-Salaam on March 17, according to a notice by the airline.

The appointment comes at a time Fastjet has set sights on expanding its reach beyond Tanzania to the rest of the region, including a possible entry into Kenya. The airline, which was launched in November 2012, had hoped to start operations in Kenya after acquiring 49 per cent of local carrier Fly 540.

Fastjet, however, did not have full control of the local subsidiary, making it hard to start operations in Kenya, which was to be its headquarters. This saw the airline opt to set up in Tanzania.

Its entry into Kenya could raise competition for JamboJet, which has already caused a stir by announcing $33 (Ksh2,850) one-way fly tickets to Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret.

READ: JamboJet finally takes to the skies

The ticket prices are less than half of what commercial airlines are offering on the same routes, and had attracted a reported 8,000 bookings by Tuesday last week.

Mr Kibati first joined KQ in 1992, right after university. He left in 2005 for Virgin Nigeria where he rose to be its chief commercial officer and overseeing the rebranding of the airline after British billionaire Richard Branson divested from the market.

He rejoined KQ in 2010 where he was part of the team that helped put together the airlines 10-year strategic plan ‘Project Mawingu’.

Fastjet’s Tanzanian operations reported losses before interest and tax of $13.3 million in the first six months to June 2013.

Business Daily