Low-cost carrier Jambojet is set to enhance its Kisumu-Nairobi operations following the acquisition of a ninth aircraft, a Dash 8 Q400, expected to arrive next week.
Jambojet Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karanja Ndegwa, said the new addition will increase daily flights from six to seven, with plans to scale up to eight on peak days.
Kisumu is Jambojet’s third largest market, contributing up to 18% of annual passenger traffic, with over 1.5 million passengers flown on the route in the last decade.
“Kisumu is our third biggest market after Nairobi and Mombasa and has shown remarkable consistency over the years. We’ve carried 1.53 million passengers on this route in the past 10 years and 254,000 last year alone,” said Ndegwa.
“When the aircraft lands at Kisumu International Airport, it takes just 25 minutes and we are on the way back to Nairobi. This has greatly impacted our productivity,” he said.
Ndegwa added that Jambojet was also exploring future route expansion through Kisumu International Airport given Kisumu’s strategic location.
“Before opening a new route, there are so many factors we consider to determine the viability. We have looked at the possibility of direct flights from Kisumu to Juba but we still don’t have the numbers. This is an issue we keep refreshing every day,” he said.
He added that the suspended Goma route in the DRC could resume once safety is assured and that Kisumu remains key to the airline’s future expansion plans.
“Goma was a very good route for us. When the opportunity arises and safety is assured, we will definitely consider returning,” he said.