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Jambojet increases Mombasa, Kisumu and Ukunda flights

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Travellers disembark from a Jambojet plane. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Jambojet has increased frequencies on most of its routes following what the budget carrier says is increased demand and flexibility offered by its newly acquired aircraft.

The low cost carrier, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways #ticker:KQ, will now fly 39 times a week to Mombasa up from 22 while passengers travelling to Kisumu from Nairobi will now be served by 20 weekly flights, an increase of six.

Jambojet has also added four frequencies to its Ukunda route, increasing them to 14 a week while its Eldoret flights are up two per week to hit 20. The Malindi route has however seen its weekly flights cut from 13 to nine.

READ: Jambojet gets new aircraft amid busy holiday season

In addition to increased demand, the no frills carrier says the frequencies adjustment is a response to their recent acquisition of two Bombardier Q400 aircraft that can do more trips cycles.

“We are pleased that more passengers are choosing to fly over other means of transport,” Willem Hondius, Jambojet’s chief executive officer, said in a statement.

“The demand has been growing especially on the coastal routes, a clear indicator that Jambojet is contributing immensely to the growth of domestic tourism and the economy at large.”

Jambojet, which has been operational since April 2014, has for a long time operated four aircraft — two Q400 planes and two Boeing 737s, the latter leased from its parent firm.

It flies between 45,000 and 50,000 passengers per month.

The low cost carrier returned one of the leased Q400 aircraft last year, acquired two in December 2017 with one more expected later this month.

On Sunday, it returned the last of two Boeings to Kenya Airways, leaving it with a fleet of three Q400 planes.

This “young” fleet compliment, Mr Hondius says, will allow the airline offer “flexibility and flight variety to customers.”

Jambojet is set to commence flights to Tanzania and Uganda by next month, kicking off its regional expansion plan. It also plans to commence flights to Wajir in February.

The budget carrier in May 2017 granted regulatory approval to fly to 16 routes including Entebbe, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Kigali, Juba, Bujumbura, Hargeisa, Mogadishu, Goma, Kisangani and Moroni.

READ: Jambojet to launch Uganda, Tanzania flights by February