Kenya’s low-cost carrier Jambojet is gearing up for an ambitious expansion drive, unveiling plans to significantly increase its fleet size and open longer routes across the continent.
According to ch-aviation.com, newly appointed board chairman Ayisi Makatiani says the airline will pursue new destinations in West and Southern Africa as part of a five-year growth strategy.
He told Kenya’s Business Daily newspaper that the budget carrier, a Kenya Airways subsidiary, will acquire two more aircraft in the next year, using leasing options to grow sustainably, while improving efficiency and customer experience. Details about the aircraft to be leased were not disclosed.
He said that the airline’s annual revenue had topped KES13 billion shillings (USD10 million) with strong demand on domestic and short regional routes, particularly between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta and Kisumu, and Nairobi and Mombasa.
CEO Karanja Ndegwa previously said Jambojet expected to grow its fleet to 11 aircraft by early 2026 and to 16 by 2029. Karanja told ch-aviation that the airline planned to lease three additional Q400s in 2025 to meet rising demand and grow passenger numbers by 12% annually over the next five years.
According to ch-aviation and ADS-B data, the airline’s current fleet comprises nine leased DHC-8-Q400s. Ndegwa said the tenth and eleventh Q400s would arrive from lessors in the coming months.
From Nairobi, the airline operates domestic flights to Eldoret, Kisumu, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, and Ukunda; and regional services to Zanzibar (Tanzania).
