Air Kenya Launches Scheduled NBO-MBA Flights
Air Kenya Express has started scheduled flights from Nairobi to Mombasa. The maiden flight left Wilson Airport last Friday at 7.45am, using a Dash 8 aircraft. The airline’s managers are hoping that passengers will favour Wilson Airport due to traffic jams in Nairobi, which congest Mombasa Road for those catching their flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). "We have been impressed by the response; we never expected such support," said Ms Carole Ndegwa, the airline’s marketing manager. The launch of the twice-daily flight in the morning and evening at Wilson airport coincides with the high tourist season, which is expected to extend towards the end of the year. Air Kenya Express entry makes the number of airlines currently serving the Nairobi to Mombasa route to three. The other two are Kenya Airways (KQ) and the East African Safari Air-Jetlink Express group. KQ has dominated the route for many years following a pull out of another local airline, African Airways Express. Last year, Regional Air collapsed after facing financial difficulties, Two months ago, East African Safari Air Express and its sister company, Jetlink Express, launched twice-daily flights on the route from JKIA. All the three airlines are positioning themselves to fly hundreds of passengers during the World Cross Country Championships to be held in Mombasa in March 2007. The entry of Air Kenya Express will nurture the desired competition, which will in turn bring improved efficiency, customer care and hopefully lower the current cost of travel for passengers. Since the collapse of Regional Air, which operated in partnership with British Airways, KQ were for a long time the sole operators on the route Air Kenya Express offers daily flights from Wilson to Masai Mara, Kilimanjaro, Lamu, Kilwayu, Amboseli, Nanyuki, Lewel / Samburu, Samburu – Masai Maara, Nanyuki – Masai Maara, Wilson – Meru, Wilson – Malindi. I think this is a good move. They may be able to offer cheaper tickets as a result of cheaper rates offered by Wilson airport in comparison to JKIA. Wilson airport is also more centrally located and this may appeal to a lot of people. Cheers, Walter.