Jambojet acquires second Dash 8 Q400 aircraft as it gears up to regional market entry

NAIROBI, 23rd May 2017

Low-cost airline Jambojet has acquired a brand new Dash 8 Q400 jet to augment its fleet as it looks to expand its operations into the East African region.

The new aircraft, that seats 78 passengers, which will come into operation in the next few weeks, was unveiled at a ceremony at the Kenya Airways Hangar. The delivery of the new aircraft comes barely three months after the no-frills airline leased another Dash 8 from Abu Dhabi Aviation to cater to the growing demand as well as stabilize its flight schedules within the country. Currently, the airline operates two Q400s and two Boeing 737s.

The aircraft, a next-generation turboprop, is renowned for steep approaches and short take-offs. These features make it suitable for use in domestic airports such as Diani, Malindi and Manda, as well as other airports in the East African region with relatively short runways.

Mr. Willem Hondius, the Jambojet CEO and Managing Director, said that the NextGen Q400 has proven to be an exceptional addition to the carrier’s fleet because of its best-in-class passenger experience, providing an exceptionally bright, comfortable cabin. This all adds up to a comfortable and enjoyable flying experience that passengers appreciate.

"The arrival of this new aircraft is a huge milestone for Jambojet. It demonstrates how committed we are to investing in growing our business and providing more choice, comfort and quality to our passengers. We are definitely angling ourselves to fly our customers to more destinations and thus the new aircraft will help us increase capacity and fulfill our growth ambitions,’’ explained Mr. Hondius.

Jambojet continues to put in place several measures which have seen a marked improvement in on-time-performance.

After a dip in December, due to technical challenges, punctuality reached 80 % in April this year; 87% in Mombasa, 84% in Kisumu and 78% in Ukunda.

Over the next quarter, new initiatives will be introduced to continuously improve the quality of service offering as well as eliminate unwarranted waiting times for passengers. Other improvements included a refreshed online booking portal that allows consumers to block fares for up to 24 hours, as well as access to a discounted bundle of travel extras, which includes 10kg cabin luggage, 15kg checked luggage, complimentary seat selection and change fee waiver for a free date change.

Jambojet introduces bundled fare feature that accommodates perks on the no-frills airline

Nairobi, 4th April, 2017

Jambojet has launched a new fare structure dubbed ‘Smart Fare’, which offers additional flexibility, comfort and convenience to customers looking for more options. Smart fare offers customers a discounted bundle of travel extras, which includes 10kg cabin luggage, 15kg checked luggage, complimentary seat selection and change fee waiver for a free date change.

With the launch of Smart Fare, customers booking a Jambojet ticket can choose from two fare plans –Basic and Smart. While Smart Fare is designed to offer a bundle of additional benefits, Basic Fares will retain the existing pricing profile.

In his remarks on the service, Jambojet Managing Director and CEO Willem Hondius said, “As part of reinforcing our commitment to strengthen our customer experience, Smart Fare is designed to offer simple,flexible and affordable choices and ensures a seamless and hassle free travel experience.

The fare feature is available to all customers when making travel reservations through any preferred platform, be it on the website or through a travel agent.
“We appreciate that our customers deserve the luxury of travelling when and how they want, through a quick, convenient and pocket friendly means as possible,” he further explained.

The no frills airline has continually made efforts to ensure that its customers get the best value for their money, by offering the lowest competitive rates in the market, and most recently through the Price Lock feature launched in July last year, which allows customers to freeze fare quotes for up to 24 hours.

Jambojet flies to all major cities in Kenya- Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumuas well as major towns; Eldoret, Malindi Ukunda and Lamu. The low cost airline has been credited for promoting local tourism as well as opening up regions by enhancing economic growth across the counties.

In the three years of operation, Jambojet has achieved undeniable business growth; increased number of routes from four to seven, increased frequency of flights, and is continually expanding their fleet to better service its customers.

Jambojet selects Q400 for fleet renewal and expansion

Ilyushin Finance leases two aircraft to a subsidiary of Kenya Airways

Toronto, April 27, 2017

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft confirms that Ilyushin Finance Co. (IFC) has converted an option on one Q400 aircraft to a firm order. The Moscow-based leasing company, now with two Q400 on firm order, has successfully concluded a leasing agreement with Jambojet Limited (Jambojet) of Kenya for both aircraft.

“This agreement for these next generation turboprops signifies a key development in IFC’s international leasing business,” said Alexander Rubtsov, Director General, IFC. “The demand for high-performance turboprops, such as the Q400, continues to expand and we are pleased to enter into this new lease with Jambojet.”

Jambojet is expected to take delivery of the first leased Q400 aircraft in May 2017, and the second aircraft later this year. The delivery of these two aircraft will increase the fleet of Q Series turboprops in Africa to over 120 aircraft including about 70 Q400 aircraft.

“We are impressed with the level of professionalism that IFC exhibited throughout the process that led to this first agreement, and are delighted to have found a trusted and reliable partner to support our development plans,” said Willem Hondius, Chief Executive Officer, Jambojet. “The Q400 aircraft’s performance has exceeded our expectations on all fronts. With its low operating costs and best-in-class passenger experience, the Q400 turboprop has helped us optimize and expand our operations and is undeniably the backbone of Jambojet’s growth strategy.”

“We are proud of the Q400 aircraft continued success in Africa. Jambojet’s operations illustrate the capabilities and qualities of the Q400 aircraft that make it uniquely suitable for the region,” said Jean- Paul Boutibou, Vice President, Sales, Middle-East and Africa at Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 is a valuable asset for owners and operators, and we are confident that IFC and Jambojet will find many more opportunities to mutually benefit from the aircraft’s outstanding economics and performance.”

Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 573 Q400 aircraft.

An Open Letter from Jambojet CEO

21st February 2017

We at Jambojet strive to deliver smooth and reliable services to all our passengers at all times, but unfortunately things have not gone according to plan in the past couple of months. We are truly sorry that we let you down and deeply regret the frustration and inconvenience this may have caused.

We experienced a spate of unforeseen operational challenges that led to the disruptions during the holiday season. These issues highlighted opportunities to improve our service delivery and overall customer experience; we recognize our responsibility to deliver a reliable service at all times. We are committed to you, our valued customers and are doing everything we can to make your experience with Jambojet one to remember for all the right reasons.

Based on your feedback, we are adjusting our processes in order to improve our service delivery. To this end, we already have introduced a brand new Bombardier Q400 next generation aircraft to further enhance flight schedule integrity, and look forward to even more additions to our fleet.

We know that an apology can only go so far, and customers have the right to exercise their freedom to choose any carrier for their travel needs. We are dedicated to take all necessary steps to deliver on our customer brand promise to fly you to your destination affordably and reliably.

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding. The entire Jambojet team and I remain committed to serving you.

Sincerely,

Willem Hondius
Managing Director & CEO