This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
On November 26, 2019, regional carrier Jambojet made its inaugural flight to Kigali, officially becoming the first low-cost carrier to fly the route.
The airline will operate once daily from its hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. This expansion is made possible by the recent addition of two brand new De Havilland Dash 8 – 400 aircraft to its fleet.
Speaking before the first maiden trip to Rwanda, Jambojet Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka expressed the airline's enthusiasm for the African market. 'Today we mark a major milestone in our regional expansion strategy. Our aim is to grow our footprint across the continent, while offering a unique product for these markets. We expect that our low-cost model will enable more people to fly affordably, conveniently, and safely,' he said.
With this new route, Jambojet eyes further expansion to South Sudan, Mogadishu, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Union of the Comoros, and Malawi in the coming days. The airline currently operates flights to five local destinations and one regional destination, Entebbe, Uganda, from its Nairobi hub.
Since its inception in 2014, Jambojet has flown over 3 million passengers, with 30% being first-time flyers. The airline has also received recognition for its operational safety, being awarded the IATA Operational Safety Audit certification (IOSA) and ranked top airline in Africa with the youngest fleet in a report by ch-aviation.
