Jambojet Bets on East Africa Trade with Return to Uganda

Jambojet will resume daily flights between Nairobi and Entebbe from October 1, marking its return to the Ugandan market six years after the route was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The low-cost carrier said the revived route will offer both passenger and cargo services, adding competition and capacity to one of East Africa’s key aviation corridors linking Kenya and Uganda.

One-way fares on the route will start from about Sh22,950, with the airline targeting business travellers, tourists and traders moving between the two countries.

Jambojet chief executive and managing director Karanja Ndegwa said the return to Entebbe forms part of the airline’s regional expansion plans as it seeks to grow beyond its domestic Kenyan network.

“Our return to Uganda is a strategic step forward in our mission to strengthen regional connectivity. We see significant opportunities to support business, tourism and trade between Kenya and Uganda while providing travellers with affordable, reliable and convenient flying experience that Jambojet is known for,” said Ndegwa.

The Nairobi–Entebbe route is expected to benefit from growing travel demand between Kenya and Uganda, with an estimated 300,000 passengers projected to travel between the two countries in 2026.

The resumption will also give Jambojet access to Uganda’s passenger market and allow travellers from Entebbe to connect to destinations in Kenya through the airline’s Nairobi network, including Mombasa, Diani, Malindi and Lamu.

“Making flying accessible across East Africa and beyond remains central to our mission. Uganda is an important market for Jambojet, and we are excited to reconnect the two destinations, while creating greater opportunities for travellers to connect to other destinations across our network,” he added.

Jambojet will also carry cargo and parcels on the route, opening an additional channel for the movement of goods between the two countries at a time when regional trade and cross-border commerce are increasingly driving demand for air connectivity.

The airline first launched flights to Entebbe in 2018 as part of an expansion into the regional market. However, its international operations were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, after which the carrier shifted its focus to strengthening its domestic operations.

The return to Uganda comes as Jambojet expands its capacity and seeks to build a larger regional footprint.

The airline increased its active fleet to 11 aircraft in April this year and recently carried its 10 millionth passenger, underlining the growth of the carrier’s operations since its launch.

Jambojet recorded an on-time performance of 86.45 percent in July, according to the airline.

The resumption of flights to Entebbe places Jambojet back in the increasingly competitive East African aviation market, where airlines are seeking to capture growing demand for business, tourism and trade travel.