FastJet’s passenger statistics and information provided on revenues achieved shows a new record for December last year, just 13 months into the operations of the startup airline. 37,458 passengers flew with the airline driving the load factor to an average 71 percent for the month.

The airline also released additional data indicating that the yield per passengers for December had climbed to US$97, indicating a swell of last-minute bookings for which the minimum fare of US$20 – bare of fees and taxes though, an issue FastJet will hopefully address in 2014 – did not apply. Monthly earnings were reported to be in the region of US$3.6 million, exceeding the 3 million mark for the first time ever according to the details received.

Flights during December had a 92 percent on time departure record, which does allow for leaving up to 15 minutes late from the gate.

Mbeya saw flights rise from four a week to daily by mid-December as a result of what the airline called “pent-up demand.” The airline’s CEO Ed Winter was quoted in the media brief as having commented on these developments: “Based on our achievements in 2013, as we enter 2014, I am very optimistic about the prospect of FastJet rolling out the low cost model on many more routes. Our success to date shows that the African market will react very positively to the provision of reliable, safe and well-priced air transport.”