The first look at Fastjet, the Easyjet of Africa

Fastjet, the new pan-African low-cost carrier backed by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of Easyjet, unveiled its branding today, including the new logo and the plane design (livery).

FastJet took over Nairobi-based airline Fly540, which will be rebranded as the new airline, and will begin selling tickets next week ahead of the airline’s first flight this month from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and will then extend to Nairobi, Kenya. It will operate from bases in Kenya, Tanzania, Angola and Ghana. Tickets will be available from as low as $20 one-way excluding taxes and charges, it said.

The new logo? The African Grey Parrot, “renowned for its intelligence and is therefore a perfect personification of fastjet’s motto; smart travel.” From SomeOne, the London-based agency that did the rebranding: “The African Grey parrot is widely considered to be one of the most intelligent birds on the planet. It also is known in African mythology for having the ‘kindest and most generous heart’ — The bird is also commonly kept as a family pet and are deeply loved by African people. All perfect connections for Africa’s newest and smarter way to travel.”

Looks quirky enough, in keeping with the backer’s own brand.