Jambojet Becomes First Low-Cost Carrier to Fly to Rwanda

Regional carrier Jambojet has made its inaugural flight to Kigali, officially becoming the first low-cost carrier to fly the route.

Jambojet will be flying once daily from its hub at Jomo Kenyata International Airport in Nairobi to Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. The airline recently expanded its fleet with two brand new De Havilland Dash 8 – 400 to cater to their expansion.

Speaking before the first maiden trip to Rwanda, Jambojet Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka said the airline is taking advantage of the huge opportunity the African market has to offer.

“Today we mark a major milestone in our regional expansion strategy. Our aim is to grow our footprint across the continent, while offering a unique product for these markets. We expect that our low-cost model will enable more people to fly affordably, conveniently, and safely,” said Mr. Kilavuka.

In the coming days, the airline eyes to debut regular flights to South Sudan, Mogadishu, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Union of the Comoros and Malawi.

Jambojet currently flies to five local destinations namely Malindi, Ukunda, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and one regional destination-Entebbe, Uganda – from its hub in Nairobi. Since its inception in 2014, the airline has flown over 3 million passengers, 30% of whom are first-time flyers.

The low-cost carrier was recently awarded the coveted IATA Operational Safety Audit certification (IOSA). Months after receiving the certification, the airline was ranked top airline in Africa with the youngest fleet in a report by global aviation intelligence provider, ch-aviation.

The report showed that Jambojet’s average aircraft age is 4.3 years compared to the continent’s average of 16 years, the oldest globally. It was followed by Royal Air Maroc Express of Morocco and Air Austral in Reunion at 6.03 and 6.05 years respectively.

Jambojet was also among the 165 aircraft showcased at the just concluded 2019 Dubai Airshow. The airline’s newest De Havilland Dash 8-400 was the plane representing the carrier at the airshow.

The airline was also among the 165 aircraft showcased at the just concluded 2019 Dubai Airshow. It’s the only Kenyan operator to ever be showcased at an international airshow. It was the first time JamboJet was taking part in the airshow and also the first Kenyan airline to ever take part in an international exhibition.