The aviation sector in Kenya targets to consolidate growth in 2025, hoping to ride on improving passenger numbers and cargo volumes to build revenue. Buoyed by improved fortunes across 2024, all key players including Kenya Airways, Jambojet, Skyward Express, and Safarilink Aviation look set to build on the gains amid route expansion and bigger forays in the lucrative cargo business. Karanja Ndegwa, chief executive officer of budget airline Jambojet says the company targets to fly 1.45 million passengers in 2025-- which would be 13 percent higher than what was achieved in 2024—as it explores new routes. He says Jambojet will add two new aircraft to its fleet in the New Year as it rallies to meet growing demand on new routes. “This is key for us in de-risking the business. We project a five percent contribution to the total revenues from JM Cargo (Jambojet’s cargo unit), charters, and media. The cargo business continues to be strong, with the Goma route contributing 80 percent of the cargo revenues. We have put together structures to enhance our domestic cargo operations, for example, flying the first mile to connect to other global airlines,” says Mr Ndegewa."We plan to implement a robust customer experience strategy that will not only enhance loyalty but meet and exceed expectations at every touch point while leveraging on new technology to improve service delivery and reduce costs,’’ he adds. Kenya Airways is also set to stay aggressive with its expansionism strategy in 2025—building the moment over 2023 and 2024 where it took on an ambitious route expansion plan that included code-sharing agreements with various international airlines. Only weeks ago, KQ said it targets to launch direct flights to the UK’s Gatwick Airport from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport(JKIA) starting July 2025 as part of a strategy of expanding its business in the key market. The airline said it would operate three-night flights a week from JKIA to Gatwick starting July 2, 2025— complementing the existing direct flight to the UK through Heathrow Airport, London. "The United Kingdom is essential and strategic for Kenya Airways and Kenya.It provides a gateway for trade, tourism, education, business, leisure travel, and diaspora connections. We are excited to add Gatwick Airport to our expansive network as it means that KQ guests now have more options in and out of the UK and a convenient schedule that suits their travel preferences” KQ Group managing director and chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka said. In its route expansion strategy, KQ has signed various code-sharing agreements with diverse international airlines. Code sharing is a marketing arrangement in which an airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline, and sells tickets for that flight. KQ recently revived a dormant codeshare agreement with Air France to enable seamless travel between Paris and Ljubljana, the capital and largest city of Slovenia. In August 2023 KQ deepened its ties with Delta Air Lines expanding its codeshare agreement to offer travellers a range of destinations. From Nairobi’s direct flights to New York, passengers now have access to 31 African cities and 57 destinations across the US and Canada, making global travel more accessible and efficient. (ICE NAIROBI)

Fonte notizia: Business Daily