Kenya Airways is forming a low cost regional subsidiary - Kenya Flamingo Airways - which will launch operations next month with two Saab 340s.
The two 35-seat, ex-Tatra-Air 340Bs will be delivered this month and next, leased from Saab Aircraft Leasing. They will be introduced on scheduled domestic services from Nairobi, on which they are now operated under franchise by Mombasa-based Eagle Aviation. Destinations include Malindo, Lamu, Kisumu and Eldoret.
"Kenya Flamingo will be a 'low cost, no frills' airline, but we intend to provide the highest levels of reliability and comfort", says chief executive Stephen Clarke. Once running, Flamingo will boost frequencies, with for example, Nairobi-Kisumu, being expanded to five daily rotations.
Meanwhile, local turboprop operator AirKenya Aviation has launched a jet operation with two Boeing 737-300s leased from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services in a deal arranged by Aircraft Leasing and Management.
The aircraft are being deployed on regional services from Nairobi under the name Regional Air. Services to Entebbe, Asmara, Djibouti and Harare are being flown, with Lusaka, Kigali and Bujumbura being added next month.
Source: Flight International
