JAMBOJET SWITCHES ALL FLIGHTS TO ELDORET AND KISUMU TO TURBOPROP OPERATIONS
(Posted 05th June 2015)
15 months into operations, the airline commenced flights on the 01st of April last year, has Jambojet changed tack vis a vis their flights to Eldoret and Kisumu, after passenger numbers remained lower than expected on these two upcountry routes following the recent launch of nonstop flights. Previously had the two destinations been combined but as a result of periodic delays and constant passenger complaints over the additional landing and waiting time on the ground did the airline in March this year give in and de-linked Kisumu from Eldoret.
The initially used Boeing B737-300 has according to information received now been withdrawn from both routes and substituted with a Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft with just half the number of seats compared to the larger jet. The airline continues to fly the larger Boeing B737-300 to Mombasa though, and having been granted traffic rights by the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority to serve a number of regional destinations, it remains to be seen when Jambojet will be able to commence such flights in order to make use of the 737’s which it leased from parent company Kenya Airways.
The other coast destinations besides Mombasa, Lamu and Malindi – served three times a week in a triangular service – and Ukunda – supposedly served double daily – are the main other routes for the turboprop operations due to the length of the respective runways not able to accommodate a B737.
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