JAMBOJET TAKES DELIVERY OF THEIR FIRST BOMBARDIER Q400NEXTGEN AIRCRAFT
(Posted 27th March 2015)
Jambojet, Kenya Airways’s inhouse low cost carrier subsidiary, yesterday took delivery of their first Bombardier Q400NextGen aircraft, when it arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Registered as 5Y-QUE will the aircraft in two days enter commercial service with flights to Jambojet’s new domestic destinations Lamu, Malindi and Ukunda.
As the Easter weekend is coming up now and with the expected rise in passenger numbers to the Kenya coast will in particular the Lamu and Malindi / Watamu food festivals get a shot in the arm as more people can fly to the coast. Those who booked early got their tickets at a cost of as low as Kenya Shillings 4.950 one way to Malindi and Ukunda and Kenya Shillings 5.950 to Lamu, all taxes included.
Also available is the option to then fly from Lamu to Malindi as the flight routing combines the two destination, allowing for visits to both of these towns, one ancient and giving a glimpse back in time and the other all set for visitors to party in the resorts or enjoy the endless sandy beaches like this correspondent experienced two weeks ago when staying at the legendary Driftwood Beach Club.
Diani resorts too are hopeful that the flight from Nairobi’s international airport will allow for visitors to bypass Mombasa altogether and beat the anti-travel advisories in place which, while excluding the Diani beaches claim that transit through the port city is off limits. The existing daily scheduled flights on Safarilink and Air Kenya operate out of Wilson Airport and are by and large used by local residents while the Jambojet flights could tap into the international market too as advanced bookings and ticket payments can be made from literally any point in the world only requiring an internet connection and a recognized credit card. ‘These new scheduled flights from Nairobi’s international airport should give international tourists, or even tourists flying from the region into Nairobi, the best and quickest connection to some of the world’s best beaches. Diani has so much to offer and the tariffs in the resorts are better than ever especially for Kenyans and people coming from East Africa. Those clever enough can book their flights from Nairobi to Ukunda at a very low fare and all they have to do is to pay for their checked bag. We hope that Kenya Airways might codeshare on the new routes so that one can actually book a through fare from say Entebbe to Ukunda and not worry about having to pay extra for their baggage. It is a real boost for us here in Diani because up to now, most of the resorts which are still open were almost empty’ wrote a Diani based regular source.
From earlier communication received from the airline will the plane also periodically be deployed on the Nairobi to Eldoret / Kisumu route, when loads are too low to operate a B737.
In a related development did Jambojet also win the trophy for best exhibitor’s stand at the just ended Sarit Centre Domestic Tourism Fair in Nairobi. Time to get packed for the long Easter weekend then and chase the bunnies along the beach, proverbially speaking. For schedule details and bookings click on www.jambojet.com
