How to get that elusive low airfare

Jambojet MD Willem Hondius at his office on July 28, 2014. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA 

By JACKSON BIKO

In Summary

WILLEM HONDIUS, Ceo, Jambojet
Age: 57
Career
MD/CEO – Jambojet
GM, East Africa – KLM Dutch Airlines.
Transavia Airlines.
Hobbies
Loves travelling, golf and reading.

Jambojet, the low-cost airline which launched on April 1 this year, has already marked its 100th day in the market.

 

Share This Story

0
inShare

Inspite of the travel advisories and the insecurity (people travelling less for leisure now), the airline has somehow realised a market growth of 50 per cent, ferrying over 150,000 passengers so far.

Though they are struggling with some flights, Willem says that they have an 85 per cent on-time flying record, quite impressive in aviation circles.

Willem’s career in the aviation industry spans over 30 years, having worked with KLM since 1984 in various positions. He was with the airline for 15 years before moving to Transavia Airlines, a subsidiary of KLM.

In 2012, he moved to Nairobi as KLM’s general manager for eastern Africa before his current position.

A towering man, you couldn’t miss him dressed in flight attendant garb serving passengers on a flight. Or in the bustle of downtown Nairobi, distributing flyers during the Jambojet promotion.

We met for tea at the Serena Hotel on a very cold morning.

Okay, just how tall are you?

I’m 6’4”, I think. I’m Dutch, we are quite tall.

Last time we spoke, you mentioned that you were trying to capture the market that uses buses. But to be quite honest, it’s quite a challenge getting those fares you advertise.

Well, yes and no. People need to understand how this works. When we started, there was confusion.

People thought they would automatically get the Sh2,850 fares, but we had to explain that you could only get this fare if you buy on time. If you want to travel tomorrow and you want to book today, you might not get those fares.

Kenyans are not famous for planning ahead. You will only get the low fares if you plan ahead and book in good time.

Realistically, when can one get those low fares. Three weeks before travel?

Yes, depending on demand. What we will do is introduce a tool where you will be able to see for longer periods when you can find those low fares.