KCAA OKs Jambojet expansion to 14 new African routes

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has granted Regional low-cost carrier, Jambojet a three-year license to operate in seven new African countries. The licenses allow Jambojet to fly to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza (Tanzania), Kigali (Rwanda), Jubba, Hargeisa, Mogadishu (Somalia), Goma, Kisangani (Democratic Republic of Congo), Moroni (Union of the Comoros) and Lilongwe and Blantyre (Malawi) from its hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

“This is an application we make to KCAA every year on the routes we intend to operate as we look to continue increasing our presence in the African region. Once we receive the required rights to each of this destination and are ready to begin operations. We are thankful for the confidence KCAA has shown in Jambojet,” said Jambojet CEO Allan Kilavuka.

Currently, the airline flies to three African destinations namely Entebbe, Uganda, Blantyre, Malawi and Bujumbura, Burundi.

“We have an ongoing expansion programme and we will announce when we are ready to fly to the various destinations,” Kilavuka said.

Initially, Jambojet had targeted launching operations to 16 routes in nine countries, others being Bujumbura (Burundi) and Juba (South Sudan). It made its maiden flight to Entebbe, Uganda in February last year.

While fellow low-cost carrier has scaled-back its presence across Africa over the past year after a change in ownership and management, Jambojet, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kenya Airways, sees the potential to grow its budget offering, supporting a strategy to boost the national carriers profitability.

Kenya Airways already serves these markets and it is understood to be supportive to transferring flying to its budget business either fully under a codeshare arrangement or on a split schedule alongside its own flights.

Previously, KCAA was reluctant to licence Jambojet’s international operations fearing it may not effectively serve them.

The airline is set to receive two new Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircrafts from Chorus Aviation Capital, to add onto their growing fleet of aircrafts.

The two aircrafts which will be purchased by the global aviation company directly from the manufacturer under a Skyline arrangement for onward lease will be joining the Jambojet fleet which currently comprises of five Bombardier Q-series leased by the regional low cost airline between May 2017 and May 2018.

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Both aircrafts are scheduled to be delivered and enter service in the second half of 2019.