Jambojet re-inducts its first aircraft -a Dash 8-Q400- back into the fleet

July 8, 2025 in Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Kenyan low-cost carrier Jambojet has marked a fleet milestone with the return of its very first aircraft, a Dash 8-Q400 registered as JXA, bringing its active fleet to nine aircraft. The re-inducted aircraft took off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for Eldoret International Airport on June 27, marking its return to service after several years away from the airline.

JXA was the first aircraft leased by Jambojet in 2016 from Abu Dhabi Aviation. Following the end of its lease term, the aircraft was returned to the lessor, and has now been brought back to strengthen Jambojet’s fleet capacity amid growing domestic and regional demand.

“This is a reminder of how far we’ve come and how intentional we are about planning for the future,” said Karanja Ndegwa, CEO and Managing Director of Jambojet. “JXA’s return is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable growth, investment in fleet reliability, continued operational excellence, and above all, customer satisfaction.”

The return of JXA involved a complex technical and regulatory process including a C-check, acceptance flight tests, airworthiness inspections, and re-registration. The ferry flight from Abu Dhabi to Nairobi took 7.5 hours and included technical stops in Salalah, Oman, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Jambojet said the aircraft will support frequency increases on high-demand routes such as Mombasa and Kisumu. The carrier, which holds more than 53pc of Kenya’s domestic market share, has flown over 8.6 million passengers since launch, 44pc of whom were first-time flyers.

“The addition of JXA is not just about increasing capacity. It’s about ensuring reliable service and meeting customer expectations across our expanding network,” said Ndegwa.

Jambojet currently operates a fleet of nine De Havilland Dash 8-Q400s. The aircraft type is well suited for short-haul regional operations and is known for its fuel efficiency and performance in high-frequency environments.

In recent years, the airline has expanded its regional footprint with routes such as Mombasa–Zanzibar and has continued to focus on affordability, safety, and access to underserved markets.