Skyward Express will charge between Sh7,000 and Sh9,000 for air fares to the coastal region, which puts it in the same category as budget carrier Jambojet.
The carrier, which has been operational for five years, injected Sh2.4 billion ($24 million) into the business last year to help it acquire additional four passenger aeroplanes.
The airline plans to launch flights to South Coast and Kisumu in the next six months as it targets counties in their planned countrywide expansion.
Budget carrier Skyward Express has stepped up competition for Kenya Airways’ low-cost subsidiary Jambojet with the launch of daily flights to Mombasa.
The airline will have daily departures from Wilson Airport to Lamu, with a stopover in Mombasa, starting March 31.
Skyward Express says its choice of Wilson Airport is meant to avoid Jambojet’s hub, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which handles multiple local and international flights.
“We will run our operations from Wilson Airport to avoid delays and hustles related to the JKIA because one of our goals is to offer convenience,” said Skyward Express director Mohammed Somo in an interview.
Skyward Express will charge between Sh7,000 and Sh9,000 for air fares to the coastal region, which puts it in the same category as budget carrier Jambojet whose lowest-priced tickets cost about Sh5,000.
The new route comes nearly two years after the firm launched Wilson-Eldoret-to-Lodwar route when it diversified from charter and cargo flights.
The carrier, which has been operational for five years, injected Sh2.4 billion ($24 million) into the business last year to help it acquire additional four passenger aeroplanes.
Skywards Express boosts a fleet of 11 passenger airplanes where Fokker 100, the largest, has the capacity to carry 100 people.
“Demand for flights to Mombasa is high and we are getting into this space to offer competitive prices and convenience. If you check with the current players plying Mombasa route their rates are ridiculous. What we have on offer will be constant and not hike over holidays,” he said.
The airline plans to launch flights to South Coast and Kisumu in the next six months as it targets counties in their planned countrywide expansion.
“Our ultimate plan is to cover the entire country in the next three years and give locals an alternative mode of transportation especially after we have discovered that there is a lot of movement by locals and investors after the devolved governments came to play.”
