Overview:

Jambojet restarts daily Nairobi–Entebbe flights on 1 October, aiming to boost trade, tourism and travel between Kenya and Uganda.

Low-cost airline Jambojet is to restart daily flights between Nairobi and Entebbe on 1 October, six years after it dropped the route during the Covid pandemic.

The carrier, owned by Kenya Airways, first flew to Uganda in 2018 but suspended its regional flights during the pandemic to focus on services within Kenya.

The daily flights will be operated by De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 turboprop aircraft, leaving Nairobi at 11:30 and reaching Entebbe at 13:00. The return flight will depart Entebbe at 13:40. The airline said one-way fares would start at about $170.

Jambojet is returning to a busy route. Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines and Safarilink already fly between Entebbe and Nairobi, which is seen as one of the more expensive short journeys in the region. Uganda’s state airline has also been expanding after securing government funding earlier this year.

The airline’s chief executive, Karanja Ndegwa, said the move was part of a wider plan to make air travel more affordable in the region.

“Our return to Uganda is a strategic step forward in our mission to strengthen regional connectivity,” he said. “We see significant opportunities to support business, tourism and trade between Kenya and Uganda.”

Jambojet will also carry cargo and parcels on the route.

The airline said about 300,000 passengers were expected to travel between the two countries in 2026. It said Ugandan travellers would be able to connect onwards to Kenyan coast destinations such as Mombasa, Diani, Malindi and Lamu.

Before the launch, Jambojet held a meeting with the Uganda Association of Travel Agents in Kampala. The association’s chairperson, Irene Nanyombi, welcomed the return, saying it came “at an opportune time” for travel and trade in the region.

Jambojet increased its fleet to 11 aircraft in April and expects more deliveries by early 2027 to support its regional growth, which also includes a planned route to Dar es Salaam. It says it has carried more than 10 million passengers since it launched in 2014.