Jambojet bets on partnerships in expansion bid

Passengers disembark from a Jambojet plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | NMG

By ANTHONY KITIMO
More by this Author

&

By MOHAMED AHMED
More by this Author

Summary

• The airline said in the partnership, hotels will offer discounted rates for its passengers.
• Jambojet acting managing director Karanja Ndegwa said the Coast remains one of its major markets and is seeking ways to work more with stakeholders to increase it.
• The airline has already partnered with Sarova Whitesands and Resort and Kenya Tourism Board in its bid to increase flight frequency in the region.

Jambojet airline is seeking to partner with hoteliers and other tourism players in Coast to offer low-cost tickets and packages to increase its market share.

The airline said in the partnership, hotels will offer discounted rates for its passengers.

Jambojet acting managing director Karanja Ndegwa said the Coast remains one of its major markets and is seeking ways to work more with stakeholders to increase it.

The airline has already partnered with Sarova Whitesands and Resort and Kenya Tourism Board in its bid to increase flight frequency in the region.

"We have partnered with different stakeholders to ensure we increase our market in the region from 34 percent to at least 40 percent this year by increasing our frequency visits and adding our routes despite," said Mr Ndegwa, noting that one of the key challenges they face is airstrips that are in poor state.

"Due to underdeveloped runways, we cannot fly to Lamu where as in Diani we can only do 70 percent capacity as the runway is short."

Due to lack of underdeveloped infrastructures, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has now written to the Transport Ministry to set aside a Sh2.3 billion budget for the expansion of the Ukunda Airport which is to be renamed Diani National Airport.

The expansion of the airport, which is set to be done four phases, will allow it to accommodate bigger aircrafts and thus boosts tourism.

KAA projects and engineering services general manager Fred Adawo said phase one of the project will involve the extension of the runway from the current 1.2km to 1.4km and the construction of a modern terminal building.

"Currently, Ukunda Airstrip has got a 1.2 km runway and a small aerodrome. Our plans, therefore will see the expansion of the current aerodrome, put up an air traffic control tower and a fire station," said Mr Adawo.

He told Shipping & Logistics that a new road will also be built and aligned to where the terminal building will be located.

Phase two of the project, he said will involve acquisition of a land for future extension of the runway.

Works for the extension of the runaway will also be part of phase three of the project which will involve extension of the runway from 1.4km to 1.8km which will further allow accommodation of bigger aircrafts.