Tag Archives: Kenya Airways

Jambojet starts operations on April 1 with three Boeing 737-300s

Jambojet (Jambojet.com) (subsidiary of Kenya Airways) (Nairobi) as planned, launched low-fare operations on April 1 between Nairobi and Mombasa. Service to Kisumu and Eldoret were also commenced on the same day with three leased Boeing 737-300s (from Kenya Airways).

The new airline will gradually expand to Arusha (Tanzania), Bujumbura (Burundi), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Entebbe (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) according to ATW.

The formation of lower cost Jambojet is a defensive move by parent Kenya Airways against any plans by Fastjet to operate in Kenya.

Top Copyright Photo: Jambojet. Each tail represents a different animal, specifically the Cheetah, Zebra and Giraffe. The the three leased Boeing 737-300s are pictured at Nairobi.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Jambojet. Captain Aquinas Birika and First Officer Wanjiru Gichaga make a toast after landing the first flight.

Kenya Airways to launch its new Jambojet subsidiary on April 1

Kenya Airways (Nairobi) will launch its new low-cost no frills Jambojet (Jambojet.com) (Nairobi) subsidiary on April 1. The new carrier will fly from Nairobi initially to Eldoret, Kisumu and Mombasa with Boeing 737s.

Images: Jambojet.

Boeing delivers the first Boeing 777-300 ER to Kenya Airways

Boeing (Chicago) has delivered a 777-300 ER (Extended Range) to GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for lease to Kenya Airways (Nairobi). The pictured 777-36N ER 5Y-KZZ (msn 41818) was handed over on October 24.

Kenya Airways’ 777-300 ER is configured with 400 seats, 28 in Premier World and 372 in Economy, and features USB ports, power sockets and an all-new in-flight entertainment system throughout the cabin. The airplane can fly up to 7,825 nautical miles (14,490 kilometers) and is equipped with GE90-115B engines, the world’s most powerful commercial jet engine.

Kenya Airways is set to take delivery of a further two 777-300 ERs, including an additional lease, as part of the carrier’s 10-year strategic plan dubbed ‘Project Mawingu.’ The Nairobi-based carrier plans to increase its fleet size from 44 airplanes to 107 by 2021 and destinations from the current 62 to 115. Currently the airline operates an all-Boeing long-haul fleet of four 777-200 ERs and six 767-300 ERs.

With this delivery, Kenya Airways is also working with Boeing to support the Alaskan Sudan Medical Project (ASMP) by carrying 10,400 lbs (4,717 kilograms) of humanitarian supplies on the 777-300 ER’s delivery flight to Kenya. ASMP will use the supplies to build medical clinics, drill water wells and construct bio-sand filters for clean water in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. The humanitarian cargo will also include water pumps and agriculture equipment to support local farmers, fulfilling the ASMP’s mission statement of saving lives through health, clean water and agriculture.

Kenya Airways operates a fleet of more than 25 Boeing airplanes including, 777s, 767s and 737s. The carrier serves more than 60 destinations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe and has nine 787 Dreamliners currently on order from Boeing.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-36N ER 5Y-KZZ (msn 41818) climbs beautifully from the runway at Paine Field near Everett.

Ethiopian Airlines:

Kenya Airways is losing revenue every day due to the Nairobi terminal fire

Kenya Airways‘ (Nairobi) CEO Titus Naikumi estimates the airline has already lost around $4 million due to the August 7 fire that gutted the international arrival building at Nairobi’s Airport. The airline is suffering long delays and cancellations due to the damage. The airport has erected tents as a makeshift terminal according to this report by Reuters. Kenya Airways is currently operating at around 90 percent of its normal capacity.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-2U8 ER 5Y-KQS (msn 33683) prepares to depart from London (Heathrow) bound for Nairobi.

Kenya Airways:

A huge fire destroys the Arrivals Hall at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) (Nairobi) is the major international airport in Kenya and the hub of Kenya Airways.

According to Kenya Airports Authority “Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, formerly called Embakasi Airport and Nairobi International Airport, is Kenya’s largest aviation facility, and the busiest airport in East Africa. It’s importance as an aviation center makes it the pace setter for other airports in the region.

The airport is named after the first Kenyan prime minister and president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and is located in Embakasi, 15 kilometers to the south-east of the Nairobi Business District.”

A massive fire has broke out in the International Terminal and closed the airport today. The fire has destroyed the International Arrivals Building. This is bound to have a major affect on Kenya Airways and tourism in Kenya.

Read the full report from CNN: CLICK HERE

Kenya Airways:

Embraer delivers the 900th E-Jet to Kenya Airways

Embraer on October 10 reached a significant milestone, with the delivery of its 900th E-Jet, an ERJ 190-100 IGW to Kenya Airways (Nairobi) in a ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.

Today, E-Jets are in service with more than 60 airlines from 40 countries with four different types of business models – mainline, low-cost carriers, regional application and most recently, with scheduled tour operator. The aircraft routinely fly long sectors over water and operate at some of the world’s most challenging airfields, like London City airport (LCY). The family also offers onboard entertainment systems, live satellite TV and radio, in seat power ports and Wi-Fi connectivity to the passengers.

Kenya Airways:

Kenya Airways starts a staff restructuring plan

Kenya Airways (Nairobi) on August 1 started a staff restructuring plan to reduce its staff costs which ballooned in the last few years.

Read the full statement from the carrier: CLICK HERE

Kenya Airways:

Kenya Airways to introduce Jambo Jet later this year

Kenya Airways (Nairobi) as a follow-up to our previous report last year, will move ahead and introduce its new regional subsidiary Jambo Jet later this year to compete against the rising number of lower cost carriers in Africa.

Read the full report from Ventures: CLICK HERE

Kenya Airways drops Muscat and Rome, increases London frequencies

Kenya Airways (Nairobi) is immediately dropping all services to Muscat (Oman) and Rome.

The carrier is increasing flights to London (Heathrow), going from daily service to 10 flights a week in July with 322-seat Boeing 777-200 ERs. Paris (CDG) will also increase to six weekly flights during the July-August peak period.

Kenya Airways is also planning to add Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Eldoret (Kenya), Abuja (Nigeria) and Beirut between July and October.

On the financial side, the flag carrier reported a 53 percent decline in its fiscal year net profit to $19.5 million for the year ending on March 31, 2012.

Read the full report from Bloomberg: CLICK HERE

Kenya Airways:

Kenya Airways to add Beirut on October 25

Kenya Airways (Nairobi) will Beirut, Lebanon and the Nairobi-Beirut route starting on October 25. The new route will be operated three days a week with Boeing 737s per Airline Route.

Kenya Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE