Jambojet is embarking on a critical growth strategy as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. The budget airline which is owned by Kenya Airways is eyeing additional regional routes and boosting its freight operations to consolidate its current position as East Africa’s leading low-cost carrier.
“We have identified several growth opportunities that we believe can elevate our brand to the next level. Our focus areas are network expansion across the region and adding more tonnage to our freight operations,” said Jambojet Managing Director and CEO Mr. Karanja Ndegwa.
The airline which was established in 2014 has found its footing in the post-COVID era with its recovery peaking in September 2022 when it recorded 1 million passengers on its flights, surpassing the previous year’s bookings by 38%.
“We are delighted with the fact that we were able to recover very quickly after COVID. After all the restrictions were lifted, people had a lot of enthusiasm for vacations, visiting family and friends, and business travel. Those customer trends were an inadvertent win for us,” said Mr. Ndegwa.
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Jambojet is also banking on its continued investment in a modern fleet of Dash 8 400 aircraft to entrench its network footprint by adding more flights on its routes.
“There has been a lot of demand for air travel, especially from local travelers who prefer comfort and convenience. Our investment in the Dash 8 and its workhorse capabilities represents our commitment to serving additional upcountry and regional routes where there is limited or developing infrastructure,” he added.
Jambojet is scheduled to start operating its Mombasa-Zanzibar route on July 1st, a route that adds flexibility for both local and international travelers keen on transiting to the island through Kenya.
“The Mombasa-Zanzibar route has immense potential, especially from a tourism perspective. Both destinations receive a high volume of visitors during the peak seasons which we are keen to take advantage of. There is also an opportunity for trade enhancement across the route which bodes well for our cargo operations,” added Mr. Ndegwa.
Jambojet Chairman Vincent Rague outlined how the airline has entrenched itself in the local and regional markets.
“Over the past 3 years, our strategy has been focused on consolidating our business and managing our costs. Last year alone, we operated 18, 456 flights, a 19% increase from 2022. This contributed to our growth in market share to 52% as of the end of 2023,” said Mr. Rague.
“We established our secondary hub in Mombasa to address market needs. This enables us to operate an early flight out of Mombasa, and a late flight into Mombasa. It has also enabled us to connect Mombasa to Kisumu and Eldoret with daily direct flights, and on 1st July, we are starting the Mombasa – Zanzibar route,” he added.
Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport & Public Works Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen welcomed Jambojet’s expansion strategy stating that it will enhance economic activity across the region.
“This connection will open additional trade between the two destinations that share a lot of social and economic history. It will also boost tourism e, especially from international visitors who might start considering Kenya as a transit point to the island,” said Mr. Murkomen.
The Cabinet Secretary also commended Jambojet in achieving the ten-year milestone adding that the Government of Kenya will continue developing polices that foster a conducive environment for aviation players to operate in.
“This celebration underpins the commitment and the business environment that the Government of Kenya has provided local entities, particularly in the aviation sector, to operate and thrive alongside local and international airlines,” said Mr. Murkomen.
“Our government continues to recognize the role played by the aviation sector, especially low-cost carriers like yourself, in boosting Kenya’s economy,” he added.
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