Fly SAX (Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) expects its new Tanzanian subsidiary - SAX-Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) - to launch operations in the second half of this year. Airline CEO Don Smith, who also owns Fly540 (FFV, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta), said the start-up is currently awaiting Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority regulatory approval.

"We are launching a new airline to meet the ever-increasing demand for low-cost, efficient and safe air travel within Tanzania from the country's own citizens as well as international tourists," Smith said.

Operations will focus on domestic and international routes using 12-80 seater aircraft.

The airline will take Smith head-to-head with Fastjet (Dar es Salaam) with whom he had an acrimonious falling out regarding the acquisition of Fly540 Tanzania (Dar es Salaam).