Kenyans face higher air ticket prices this year as most domestic carriers raise fares amid rising demand for air travel and a persistent shortage of aircraft that has pushed up leasing costs.
Off-peak fares on major domestic routes such as Nairobi–Mombasa, Nairobi–Kisumu and Nairobi–Eldoret are set to rise by up to Sh2,000 for a one-way ticket, according to bookings on leading airlines for months ahead.
The increases follow a surge in demand as more Kenyans favour air transport over other means, according to aviation experts, alongside increased State spending and economic expansion that has left more money in consumers’ pockets.
“Demand has gone up and naturally, the only way to manage that is to raise prices. Load factors have risen for most domestic routes and that’s why you’ve seen the fares go up,” said a senior airline executive who requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media.
“And I think more people are flying because there’s more money in people’s pockets. I think there was a rise in government spending and people have more money to spend on flights.”
The Nairobi–Mombasa route will see the sharpest increase, with fares rising by Sh2,678 from an average of Sh8,133 to Sh10,812 this year. It is one of Kenya’s most lucrative domestic routes, served by the national flag carrier Kenya Airways (KQ), its subsidiary Jambojet and privately owned airlines such as Safarilink, Skyward and Fly540.
Fares on the Nairobi–Kisumu route, another high-traffic corridor, will also rise sharply, from an average of Sh5,745 to Sh7,976. The route is served by KQ, Jambojet, Renegade Air and Safarilink.
The Nairobi–Eldoret route, served by KQ, Jambojet and Skyward, will see the smallest increase, with average fares rising by about Sh400 from Sh7,250 to Sh7,650.
Jambojet, the leading domestic carrier with an estimated 52 percent market share, is among the airlines that have raised fares this year. Its largest increase is on the Nairobi–Kisumu route, where the airline will charge a minimum of Sh8,300, up from Sh6,500 last year.
The airline last year recorded a rise in load factor (the percentage of seats filled by paying passengers) from 80.2 percent to 80.4 percent, reflecting sustained demand on its key routes.
Beyond demand pressures, the government last year increased the air passenger service charge from Sh500 to Sh600 per ticket, adding to the cost of domestic air travel.
Airline costs have also risen due to a global shortage of aircraft and spare parts, leaving several Kenyan carriers with grounded planes and higher leasing expenses.
Live plane tracking data shows that as 2025 closed, at least 17 aircraft registered in Kenya were grounded and had been so for most of the year, severely constraining airline capacity and revenues.
The aircraft belong to KQ, Renegade, 748 Air, African Express Airways, Aircraft Leasing Services and Astral Aviation.
Industry experts say demand remains the main driver of higher fares, suggesting prices are likely to stay elevated even as parts shortages ease and more aircraft return to service.
