New air service poised to uplift tourism in Lamu

What you need to know:

Last week budget carrier Skyward Express launched its maiden flight to Lamu, upping the competition among airlines that are serving Coastal routes.
Other airlines operating flights to Lamu are Kenya Airway’s low cost carrier, Jambojet, Air Kenya, Safarilink, Fly540 and Fly-SAX.
The journey from Mombasa to Lamu by road is often tedious and can take up to four hours.

Lamu is gearing up for an especially active Easter season as the entry of a new airline and the recent amendments of UK travel advisories pave the way for higher tourist numbers.

Last week budget carrier Skyward Express launched its maiden flight to Lamu, upping the competition among airlines that are serving Coastal routes. Skyward Express is flying daily from Wilson Airport, avoiding rival Jambojet’s hub at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport, and will be flying to Lamu via Mombasa.

The stopover in Mombasa provides the airline a competitive advantage .

“Currently, most of the flights to Lamu are via Malindi and as a result travellers take about three hours to arrive at Manda Airport,” said Lamu tourism director Ali Ahmed.

Other airlines operating flights to Lamu are Kenya Airway’s low cost carrier, Jambojet, Air Kenya, Safarilink, Fly540 and Fly-SAX.

The entry of Skywards on the Lamu route comes just weeks after the United Kingdom amended its travel advisory for Lamu and Manda islands. The UK said that it “no longer advised against travel to Lamu Island and Manda Island” but cautioned visitors to opt for air travel rather than road transport.

The nature of this travel advice is expected to boost tourist numbers and channel customers to the airlines.

Authorities in Lamu say that they are already seeing an uplift in the tourism numbers.

“Since the UK reviewed travel advice against Lamu and Manda islands weeks ago, we have seen a rise in visitor numbers,” said Lamu tourism executive, Khamis Kaviha.

Although Lamu is one of Kenya’s most attractive tourist destinations and a world heritage site, its visitor numbers have in the past been depressed by security concerns as well as transport challenges.

The journey from Mombasa to Lamu by road is often tedious and can take up to four hours. Lack of adequate flight connections to Lamu and other parts of the coast was felt especially acutely last year when flight delays and cancellations left thousands of visitors stranded.