Kenya Airways LCC subsidiary, Jambojet has announced the arrival of a Bombardier Dash 8 to its growing fleet. The addition of this aircraft brings the total number of aircraft in Jambojet’s fleet to 8 aircraft as it takes over more regional routes from the mainline carrier amid surging demand.
The aircraft, a De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 with the tail number 5Y-JXL, underwent comprehensive maintenance, inspections, acceptance tests, and registration at Calgary International Airport in Canada before embarking on its maiden voyage on the 29th of July 2023. Named ‘Kozi,’ the aircraft covered a remarkable 14,650 kilometers during its ferry flight, making several technical or night stops in cities like Thunder Bay, Goose Bay, Keflavik, Exeter, Malta, Marsa Allam, Addis Ababa, before landing triumphantly in Nairobi on the 2nd of August 2023.
The De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 NextGen, a 78 to 82-seater aircraft, is renowned for its advanced features, making it the most sophisticated aircraft in the turboprop category with jet-like capabilities. The aircraft’s regional operations design allows it to be large, fast, quiet, and fuel-efficient, offering an ideal balance of passenger comfort and operating economics, along with a reduced environmental footprint.
Speaking at the aircraft reception event, Karanja Ndegwa, CEO of Jambojet, expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude, “We are thrilled to welcome Kozi to our fleet, which will ensure we address the growing market needs, allowing us to add frequencies in some of our destinations. This is a show of our commitment to providing a safe, affordable, reliable experience, with convenient schedules and exceptional customer service.”
Jambojet has been experiencing significant growth, with the number of passengers carried in 2022 surpassing the one-million mark. For 2023, the airline has set an ambitious target of flying 1.2 million passengers, and their progress indicates they are well on their way to achieving it. “At the end of June, we had flown close to 600 thousand passengers, indicating we are well on our way to surpass the target. We couldn’t have achieved this without our guests who choose us over and over again, so we say thank you,” Mr. Ndegwa added.
Currently, Jambojet operates over 380 weekly flights across 11 routes, connecting Nairobi to Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret, Malindi, Ukunda (Diani Beach), Lamu, and Goma (DRC). Additionally, there are direct flights from Mombasa to Kisumu and Eldoret. The fleet has an average age of five years, with all aircraft delivered less than a year after leaving the factory. Its seventh Dash 8-400 was delivered at the end of last year. The arrival of ‘Kozi’ marks a significant milestone for Jambojet as the airline continues to enhance its offerings and expand its reach.
