In a bid to decongest its airports and provide seamless aviation operation, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has announced that it will auction 73 uncollected aircraft at four of its airports for prices as low as Sh5,000 ($44.93).
According to africa.businessinsider.com, the Authority in an advert invited interested bidders for planes that have overstayed at their yards at the Jomo Kenyatta, Moi, Wilson and Lokichoggio airports.
“All interested purchasers are requested to view the items as per the dates and verify their respective details as these are not warranted by neither the auctioneer nor KAA as the items are being offered for sale ‘as is-where-is’,” a part of the advert read.
Owners of the aircraft lying uncollected at KAA airports are Somali Air force, Jetlink, Skyward, Eagle Aviation, Prestige Aviation, Fly540, Pan Africa Airways, and Planes for Africa.
READ: Aviation: Study Shows That Kenya Airways Tickets Are The Most Expensive In Africa
In 2019, KAA invited the public to buy uncollected items from its airports as part of a clean-up programme.
The government agency said aircraft parking fees were accumulating and the companies were not paying the fees. This have also led to the airports being congested, and disrupting other activities.
KAA announced that interested bidders can view the planes from November 4-16 during normal working hours. Auctions of aircraft at Nairobi airports (Jomo Kenyatta International and Wilson) will take place on November 17 while planes will be sold at Moi International Airport in Mombasa on November 19, and Lokichoggio on November 22.
The government agency disclosed that bidders will have to pay a deposit of Sh100,000 per item on auction and stated that where the bid price is lower than the deposit price, the bidder will be refunded the difference after presenting a receipt.
However, where the bid price is higher than the deposit, the bidder will need to pay not less than 25 percent of the total value.
“The balance of the auctioned item must be paid within 24 hours (or) the award will be cancelled and the deposit forfeited and the item sold to the second highest bidder. Sale will be subject to the reserve price,” another part of the advert said.
KAA gave an ultimatum that all purchased items are to be paid for and collected within seven days of the date of the auction. Failure to comply means, KAA will start charging storage fees of Sh10,000 per day until the items have been cleared. Failure to collect the items in 14 days will mean a permanent forfeiture to KAA.
According to simpleflying.com, the list of aircraft types is long and diverse, ranging from the Ukrainian An-24 to the classic 737-200. There’s even a 707-300! All of these aircraft have some seriously, seriously, low starting bid prices
Over 70 aircraft to be auctioned off.
According to ch-aviation, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is hoping to sell some 73 derelict aircraft that have been abandoned at various Kenyan airports. Aircraft can be viewed in advance of the auction dates, between now and November 16th, with auction dates and times (all local) as follows:
• Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta: 10:00 on November 17th
• Nairobi Wilson: 14:30 on November 17th
• Mombasa: 10:00 on November 19th
• Lokichoggio: 10:00 on November 22nd.
In August 2020, KAA had contacted the owners of the abandoned aircraft to settle accounts and request the removal of their plane. Along with this came the warning that their assets could be auctioned off.
A 707-300 starting at $2,497
In the case of our ‘featured’ Boeing 707, this 54-year-old quadjet registered J5-GGU sustained substantial damage to its undercarriage when landing in Mombasa. Operated by Safari Airlines, The Aviation Safety Network notes that the aircraft’s undercarriage contacted landing lights while on final approach to the runway in 2009. Despite a safe landing, the jet’s right-hand main gear collapsed as it taxied to the apron. The 707 has been stored at Mombasa ever since and will have a starting price of just under $2,500.
In the case of the 737-200 registered EY-534, Jubba Airways had operated the 35-year-old aircraft until it was eventually left at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO). The jet appears to have flown with Afghanistan’s Kam Air in 2007 before moving to Tajikistan’s East Air in 2008. Data from Planespotters.net indicates that the jet was withdrawn from use and stored at NBO in 2012. This aircraft will have a starting bid price of $3,655.10.
Also at NBO are two An-24s previously operated by the Somali Air Force. Despite research efforts by Garowe Online, it is unclear why the two aircraft have been sitting in Kenya. However, the Somali media outlet notes that Somalia has not had combat-capable armed forces since 1991 due to years of civil war. The country relies on assistance from the African Union and US Africa Command for its aerial surveillance needs.
Auction price will be a fraction of the final cost
ch-aviation notes that interested buyers are required to pay a deposit of 100,000 Kenyan shillings per item. This is equivalent to approximately $900.
If the bid price is lower than the deposit amount, the bidder will be refunded the difference upon presentation of the receipt. However, if the bid price is higher than the deposit, the bidder will need to pay at least 25% of the total value, with the remainder to be paid within 24 hours. If payment cannot be made, the sale will be canceled and the deposit forfeited. This process will then continue with the item’s second-highest bidder.
Of course, the cost of officially owning the aircraft might end up being a fraction of what you’ll actually pay to take possession of your new purchase. Indeed, transportation of inoperable aircraft or restoration to serviceable condition is all but certain to cost much, much more.
The situation sounds even more challenging when considering the fact that auction winners have seven days from the date of the auction to remove the aircraft. Failing this, KAA will impose a storage charge of 10,000 Kenyan shillings- or $90 per day. Items not collected within two weeks will be forfeited.
We could not find evidence of an online auction site, which may indicate that participants must attend in person.
The list of aircraft
Without further delay, here is the complete list of aircraft up for auction as provided by ch-aviation.com. KES refers to the amount in Kenyan shillings with the approximate US dollar equivalent beside it in brackets.
At Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta:
• An-24; 3C-ZZA – Somali Air Force – KES73,000 ($655.91);
• An-24; 8204 – Somali Air Force – KES73,000 ($655.91);
• CRJ200; No Registration – JetLink Express (J0, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) – KES69,175 ($621.54);
• F28-4000; 5Y-JLA – Jetlink Express – KES187,800 ($1,687.39);
• DC-8-63(F); 4R-EXJ – AeroSpace Consortium (AKQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) – KES406,800 ($3,655.10);
• DC-9-10; 5Y-XXA – EastAfrican (B5, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) (formerly Fly SAX (B5, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) – KES111,500 ($1,001.83);
• BAe 748; 5Y-TCO – 748 Air Services (FE, Nairobi Wilson) – KES181,650 ($1,632.13);
• L1011-100; TZ-MHI – Askari Aviation (AAS, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int’l) – KES1,669,500 ($15,000.46);
• F50; 5Y-SIB – Skyward Express (OW, Nairobi Wilson) – KES62,600 ($562.47);
• DC-9-10; 5Y-SAN – Astral Aviation (8V, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) – KES334,500 ($3,005.49);
• B737-200; 5Y-KQJ – Aerospace Consortium – KES406,800 ($3,655.10);
• B737-200; 5Y-KQK – Aerospace Consortium – KES406,800 ($3,655.10);
• B737-200; EY-534 – Jubba Airways – KES406,800 ($3,655.10);
• B737-200; 5Y-BXZ – Jubba Airways (Kenya) (3J, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) – KES406,800 ($3,655.10);
• DC-9-10; 5Y-XXB – EastAfrican/Fly SAX – KES111,500 ($1,001.83);
• Rolls-Royce; Aircraft Engine – Unknown – KES1,000,000 ($8,985).
At Nairobi Wilson:
• Cessna 206 Super Skywagon; 5Y-AAG – Ocean Wonders – KES10,500,000 ($94,342.50);
• Piper (twin piston) PA-31-350; 5Y-ATJ – Bogol Air Services Limited – KES6,800 ($61.10);
• Fokker 27; 5Y-BTD – Pan Africa Airways – KES62,600 ($562.47);
• Cessna (twin piston) 402A; 5Y-BBV – Kenya Police Airwing (KPAW) – KES6,800 ($61.10;
• Cessna 310R II; 5Y-KPF – KPAW – KES6,465 ($58.09);
• Cessna 310R; 5Y-PAW – KPAW – KES6,465 ($58.09);
• Cessna 310R; 5Y-PAZ – KPAW – KES175,000 ($1,572.38);
• Cessna 310R; 5Y-PAW – KPAW – KES6,465 ($58.09);
• PA-34-200T; 5H-NKB – Care AV – KES6,800 ($61.10);
• PA-31-252; 5Y-MAP – Photomap Kenya Ltd – KES6,250,000 ($56,156.25);
• Cessna 172P; 5Y-CEE – VAS – KES10,500,000 ($94,342.50);
• Cessna A152 Aerobat; 5Y-NNB – Ninety Nines Flying School/West Rift – KES6,500,000 ($58,402.50);
• Fokker 50; 5Y-GIG – Bushair Safaris (Nairobi Wilson) – KES62,600 ($562.47);
• Beechcraft King Air 200C; 5Y-EKO – Queens Cross – KES20,050 ($180.15);
• BN-2 Islander; 5Y-JON – Priscilla Ransley – KES8,190 ($73.59);
• Beech (twin piston) B58 E55; 5Y-APO – Aviall Ltd – KES8,990 ($80.78);
• PA-31-310; 5Y-ARW – Rivercross Air Services – KES6,800 ($61.10);
• Beech 1900D; ET-ANE – Executive Turbine – KES20,000 ($179.70);
• Cessna 402B; 5Y-UTD – General Leasing Services – KES9,160 ($82.31);
• BN-2 Islander; 5Y-BBB – Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA) – KES9,330 ($83.84);
• CRJ100ER; 5Y-CCT – EastAfrican/Fly SAX – KES69,175 ($621.54);
• PA-31-350; 5Y-ROH – Transworld Safaris (Nairobi Wilson) – KES6,800 ($61.10);
• DHC-7-100; 5Y-BPD – AirKenya (P2, Nairobi Wilson) – KES62,800 ($564.26);
• Beechcraft 58; 5X-AGL – VAS – KES11,415 ($102.57);
• Fokker 27; 5X-FFN – Fly540 – KES62,600 ($562.47);
• Beechcraft C90 King Air; N318F – Ol Donyo Laro Aviation Ltd – KES20,000 ($179.70);
• CRJ100ER; 5Y-BXD – Avmax Holdings – KES69,175 ($621.54);
• CRJ100ER; 5Y-CCL – Avmax Holdings – KES7,500 ($67.39);
• Cessna 172; 5Y-COW – Sicham – KES10,500,000 ($94,342.50);
• Fokker 50; 5Y-MIS – Silverstone Air Services (SLR, Nairobi Wilson) – KES62,600 ($562.47);
• DC-9-10; 5Y-SAX – EastAfrican/Fly SAX – KES111,500 ($1,001.83);
• BE-76 Duchess; 5Y-YYL – Standards Aviation Flying School – KES6,800 ($61.10);
• PA-46-350P; 5Y-MIR – Kundan Singh – KES25,000,000 ($224,625);
• Beech C90 King Air; 9A-SIB/5Y-SNS – Air Pannonia (Osijek) – KES22,500,000 ($202,162.50);
• BAe 748; S2-ADL – Planes for Africa (Nairobi Wilson) – KES5,000 ($44.93).
At Mombasa:
• DC3; ZK-BBJ – Morris Catering – KES38,250 ($343.68);
• Highlander; 5Y-UA – Unknown – KES5,000 ($44.93);
• PA-23; 5H-GHC – S.H Noor – KES6,800 ($61.10);
• B707-300(C); J5-GGU – Adelante Airlines – KES277,945 ($2,497.34);
• Let 410; 5Y-ENT – Eagle Aviation (Kenya) (Y4, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) – KES20,750 ($186.44);
• Cessna 404; 5Y-PAC – Prestige Aviation – KES12,890 ($115.82);
• Let 410; 5Y-GNT – Eagle Aviation – KES20,750 ($186.44).
At Lokichoggio:
• An-28A; S9-PSV – Goliaf Air (GLE, São Tome) – KES19,500 ($175.21);
• DC-6; 5Y-BRP – Kate Freight & Travel Limited – KES52,007.50 ($467.29);
• Lockheed Hercules L-100-30 – S9-BAS – Transafrik International (TFK, Luanda) – KES88,150 ($792.03);
• DC-3; 5Y-BMB – Skyways Kenya (Nairobi Wilson) – KES38,250 ($343.68);
• Let-410; 9L-LBL – KES20,750 ($186.44);
• An-26; 9L-LFL – KES75,100 ($674.78);
• Let-410; 9L-LCT – KES20,750 ($186.44);
• An-28; 9XR-SR – KES19,500 ($175.21);
• An-28; 9L-LFN – 748 Air Services – KES19,500 ($175.21);
• An-12; 9L-LFQ – KES140,000 ($1,257.90).
