Fastjet to add Airbus A319s

African low-cost carrier Fastjet will to add “a number” of aircraft to its fleet this year, starting with an initial Airbus A319 on lease from ICBC International Leasing Co.

In a stock market disclosure released Monday, Fastjet said it has signed a letter of intent with ICBC covering a single A319 slated for entry into service in the third quarter.

In the meantime, the aircraft will be reconfigured and painted with Fastjet’s livery. “With Fastjet’s current fleet of three aircraft almost fully utilized, additional aircraft will be required to support the planned expansion of Fastjet Tanzania and to facilitate the startup of planned new fastjet operations in both Zambia and Zimbabwe,” it said in the disclosure.

Each aircraft will add roughly 1,000 daily seats, or 275,000 annual passengers to Fastjet’s operation, which is currently running at a 75% load factor.

“It will be a strong step forward to add another aircraft to our fleet and embark on our planned expansion funded by our recent £50 million ($78.6 million) placing. We are currently negotiating to bring further aircraft into the fleet,” Fastjet CEO Ed Winter said.

Despite hitting hurdles with expansion plans, fastjet is still aiming to operate 34 aircraft across a network of 40 destinations by the end of 2018. These operations will span Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.