Jambojet fares from Nairobi to Lamu will start at Sh5,950 ($65), Nairobi to Malindi Sh4,950 ($55), Nairobi to Ukunda Sh4,950 ($55) one way including taxes. The airline will also operate short flights connecting Lamu and Malindi at Sh2,950 ($33).
According to Jambojet CEO Willem Hondius, the airline has chartered one Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft (capable of operating at shorter runways) from DAC Aviation to service the new routes.
“We have chartered this aircraft to complement our current fleet of three Boeing 737 planes which are serving the existing routes. However, the Q400 will also be utilised on Kisumu and Eldoret in order to improve services on these two routes,” said Hondius, adding that there were plans to grow its fleet as it eyes new destinations in the East African region.
He says Lamu and Malindi are leading tourism destinations, globally acclaimed for their pristine beaches and unique cultural sites hence the new strategic move by the airline.
“Ukunda, also known as Diani, has an airstrip serving Kenya’s busy south coast tourism circuit. By flying to these destinations, Jambojet will be hoping to tap the anticipated increase in traffic especially to Lamu where the government plans to construct a $5 billion port,” Hondius said.
Jambojet, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, sells tickets from as low as Sh2,950 one way and currently flies to Mombasa, Nairobi, Eldoret and Kisumu.
Since its launch in April 1 last year, the airline which has flown about 500,000 customers, relies heavily on online ticket sales through its portal Jambojet.com.
The move by Jambojet is likely to be well-received by the tourism sector, which has been pushing domestic tourism as a recovery measure following decline in foreign guest arrivals linked to insecurity.