Kenyan low-fare carrier Jambojet is to lease two new Bombardier Q400 turboprops from Canadian lessor Chorus Aviation.
The east African regional airline is scheduled to receive both 78-seat aircraft and enter them into service during the second half of 2019. Chorus confirmed it was purchasing the pair to lease them to Jambojet, which is a subsidiary of Kenya Airways.
Steve Ridolfi, president of Nova Scotia-based Chorus Aviation Capital, said he was “excited about the growth prospects for regional aviation in Africa and are particularly pleased to be working with Jambojet, a regional low-cost carrier based in Kenya, through this transaction.”
Willem Hondius, the carrier’s chief executive officer, commented: “This agreement comes at a pivotal time in Jambojet’s journey as we expand our footprint into the East African region and increase our frequencies to meet the high demand of affordable and quality air travel. We are looking forward to forging a strong relationship with Chorus for mutual growth.”
Jambojet, launched in 2014, currently flies to destinations from its Jomo Kenyatta International Airport hub in Nairobi including Entebbe, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, Malindi and Ukunda. It has also undertaken an aggressive fleet expansion, utilising five Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 NextGen aircraft, and so far flown over 2.5 million passengers.
