Jambojet flies its one millionth passenger
Destinations include Kisumu, Mombasa, Lamu, Ukunda, Malindi, Eldoret with Nairobi as the base
Nairobi, 17 February, 2016
Jambojet, the low cost brand of Kenya Airways, has set a regional record of handling one million customers in less than two years. In a feat that indicates the increasing popularity of the concept of low-cost flying, the milestone has come barely two months to the company’s second year anniversary.
During the first year the domestic market grew by 25% in passenger numbers. This year the Jambojet passenger numbers increased by 18% compared to last year. The demand in all routes has grown tremendously as reflected in the number of round trips this year which is at 3,312 flights up to date as opposed to 2,522 last year.
Commenting on the milestone, Jambojet CEO Willem Hondius attributed the immense growth to the low fares on offer, the excellent customer service and clear timings for the economy growth tickers in the various destinations.
“The number of destinations increased from four when we began in April 2014 to seven, while our fleet also grew from two to four with the addition of two Bombadier Dash-8 Q400 to the already existing Boeing 737-300 during the mentioned period,” he added.
The bold move by Jambojet last year to tap into the coastal tourism circuit of Lamu, Malindi and Ukunda has contributed to the immense growth of passenger numbers in the coastal archipelago. During the past period, the total number of passengers travelling to these three destinations together went up by 71% compared to the previous year.
“While devolution may have played a key role in decentralizing the operations of many organizations that were previously nested in the city - thus increasing executive travels across the country - we also give credit to many Kenyans who have discovered the convenience of flying affordably to their destinations, thirty percent of them being first time flyers,” Mr.Hondius explained.
Jambojet's load factor - a key measure indicating how many seats flown were actually occupied increased by 10 percentage points to 77%.
“This is the first time ever that any regional operator in Kenya has carried over one million customers within two years of operation,”concluded Willem Hondius.
Travelport and Jambojet sign a new multi-year global full content agreement
Travelport and Jambojet today jointly announce a pioneering new partnership that will see Jambojet distribute all its fares and ancillaries through Travelport’s travel commerce platform
Dubai, UAE. 27 January, 2016
Travelport (NYSE:TVPT), the leading Travel Commerce Platform, has announced a new multi-year, global full content agreement with Jambojet Limited. Jambojet is also connecting to Travelport’s Universal API technology and is the first carrier in Sub-Saharan Africa to do so.
According to the agreement, Jambojet, which launched in 2014, and is based in Kenya, will offer Travelport’s 67,000 agencies worldwide access to its fares, inventory and ancillaries, including seating and paid baggage options.
Jambojet has also signed up to Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding which enables airlines to provide images and descriptions on travel agency screens, much as they are represented on their websites today. Whether it’s descriptions of meals, baggage or seating options and related fees, Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding allows for greater transparency in what is becoming an increasingly more complex world of product differentiation as parties like Jambojet seek to innovate with their on-board and airport services. Travel agents using Travelport Smartpoint, the award-winning point of sale solution, can now access this unrivalled content and comprehensive descriptions within a single workflow, enabling efficiency and revenue growth.
The industry-leading merchandising technology continues to attract the world's leading airlines, both full service and low cost carriers, from all major geographies. Jambojet joins over 130 airlines now signed up to Rich Content and Branding including Etihad, Kenya Airways and South African Airways.
Willem Hondius, CEO of Jambojet Limited, commented: “This new global full content agreement with Travelport is fully aligned with our strategy to embrace new technologies in order to provide service excellence. Travelport’s innovative technology will help us to promote Jambojet’s content to travel agents in a clear and visual way. We are looking forward to driving growth and revenue for our business though this relationship with Travelport.”
Will Owen-Hughes, Senior Director Air Commerce, Middle East and Africa, Travelport added: “We are delighted that Jambojet has recognized our Universal API technology allowing airlines to sell their products in a totally unique way which in conjunction with Rich Content & Branding also enables travel agents to become true brand champions so that they can provide optimum choice to the end traveller. We also look forward to helping Jambojet drive growth for its business by using our next-generation merchandising solutions.”
Jambojet records profits in first half year 2015
Jambojet records a KES 57 million half year profit
November 16, 2015
Jambojet, the low cost brand of Kenya Airways, today reported financial results for the first six months ending September, recording a profit of KES 57 million compared to a loss of KES 237 million during the same period last year.
Jambojet’s results show that for the period between April and September, the number of seats flown decreased by 6.6% while the number of passengers carried increased by 14% resulting in an increase in load factor to 75% versus 60% last year.
“We are very proud of these results. I'm delighted that after the startup losses during our first six months in 2014, we have now achieved a healthy growth margin during the first six months of this year. Due to our low cost model, we are able to offer very affordable fares and show a positive result at the same time,” said Jambojet CEO William Hondius.
The Kenyan Shilling depreciated against the dollar by 13% compared to the same period in 2014 as fuel costs decreased by 53%. The combination of the lower fuel cost and the stronger dollar diminished returns by KES 56 million.
Jambojet has seen solid progress in growth, increasing its daily flights to Eldoret by 50%, each way, and now flies three times daily to Eldoret, except Sundays when it has two flights a day.
“Our introduction of the two Bombardier Q400 aircraft made it possible to add new routes resulting in an increase in customers. We now have more work and opportunity ahead to ensure more Kenyans can access affordable flights as we continue to execute our long-term plan,” added Hondius.
Jambojet’s commercial initiatives continue to gain traction with the recent completion of the runway extension at Ukunda Airport by Kenya Airports Authority which will help boost business and tourism in the coastal region. Jambojet will now be able to fly close to full capacity on its Bombardier Q400 aircraft which carries 78 passengers.
Since introducing flights to Ukunda, passenger numbers have more than doubled with an all-time high in August this year of 10,800, putting the carrier on the right trajectory to stem the erosion in operating revenues by end of the financial year.
Jambojet’s profits show that the low cost model works in Kenya and that travellers understand and have embraced it. Since inception in April last year, about 30% of the carrier's passengers are first time flyers. Jambojet now holds a 35% market share in the Kenyan domestic market.
Jambojet resumes flights to Lamu after runway upgrade
Low cost brand of Kenya Airways also introduces circular flights for the coastal strip
January 8, 2015
Jambojet has rescinded their decision to suspend its flights to Lamu. This follows an announcement by Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) that the repair works on the runway had been completed and Jambojet is now allowed to use the full runway in Manda Airstrip.
Commenting on the new development, Jambojet CEO Willem Hondius said that the refurbished runway will allow Jambojet to carry full capacity thus bringing more passengers to Lamu. “We are glad that the Ministry of Transport in conjunction with the regulator have made it possible for us to fly back to the heritage-rich island starting 15th January 2015.”
“Furthermore we are making changes to our schedules to introduce circular flights that will ensure non-stop flights for passengers between Nairobi and Lamu. This enables passengers for both Lamu and Malindi to fly non-stop on the routes.” He added.
The move by Jambojet to introduce the circular flights will certainly boost the resurgent tourism sector considering that Lamu is an important attraction forming part of the coastal tourism circuit. In 2015, the Island which is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sites hosted over 20,000 visitors.
Currently, Jambojet flies the Bombardier Dash-8Q400 aircraft which carries 78 passengers on the Lamu route. It launched flights to the coastal archipelago famous as a tourist attraction in March last year and has since seen passenger numbers rise despite the capacity limitations. During the past period the total number of passenger travelling to Lamu went up by 71% compared to the previous year.
Jambojet, recorded a 17% jump in passenger numbers for the nine months ended December compared to the same period in 2014, buoyed by the introduction of various new routes including Lamu.
Jambojet increases daily flights to Eldoret
A move that will rise the airlines’ seat capacity by fifty percent each way
October 14, 2015
Kenyan low cost carrier Jambojet has increased its daily flights to Eldoret by fifty percent, each way, in a bid to tap into the growing number of passengers travelling to and from Uasin Gishu County and beyond.
Jambojet’s CEO Willem Hondius said the airline will now fly three times daily to Eldoret, except Sundays when it will operate two flights a day. The extra flights now give travellers in the region a wider choice with flexible and convenient timings.
“The increase in frequency will now see Jambojet increase its seat capacity by over fifty percent, each way, into a region that we have seen growth in terms of passage numbers,” said Mr Hondius. “We continue to target the growing domestic travel market comprising of tourists, athletes, lecturers, students, traders, investors and government officials in the region.”
The new flight will depart Nairobi at 1430hrs, arrive in Eldoret at 1520hrs, and depart Eldoret at 1540hrs and arrive in Nairobi at 1630hrs Monday through to Saturday. On Sundays it will depart Nairobi at 1000hrs to arrive in Eldoret 50 minutes later, departing Eldoret at 1100hrs to get into Nairobi at midday.
The Eldoret route is one of Jambojet’s key destinations where uptake has been high since inception in April 2014. The opening of a North Rift branch office in April this year, during a ceremony that was presided over by the Uasin Gishu County Governor, Jackson Mandago, has helped boost this growth.
Last month, the airline launched a campaign targeting first time flyers with a goal to demystify flying whilst highlighting the benefits it presents over alternative means such as road or rail.
Since inception last year April, the airline now flies to Eldoret, Kisumu, Ukunda, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa and Nairobi. It flew over 500,000 passengers in its first year of operation and aims to surpass the numbers this year.
