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Skyward Express’ Fleet Expansion Supported by De Havilland’s Certified Refurbishment Program

The airline is continuing to expand.

A Skyward Express Fokker aircraft (Photo: AMISOM/Omar Abdisalan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Farnborough Airshow is back. This year’s event featured some interesting announcements from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada including the newly launched OEM Certified Refurbishment Program. The company announced on Monday, July 22, 2024 the sale of a refurbished Dash 8-400 aircraft to Skyward Express, a private airline based in Kenya. This is part of Skyward Express’s ongoing fleet expansion strategy, as they recently acquired three Fokker F100s and are currently negotiating the purchase of a Fokker F70, according to NewsAero media website.

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada’s OEM Certified Refurbishment Program is designed to ‘keep the fleet flying.’ By acquiring, refurbishing, and re-marketing Dash 8-400 aircraft, the program meets the growing demand from customers. The specific aircraft acquired by Skyward Express will be reconfigured to support the airline’s ambitious fleet expansion.

Ryan DeBrusk, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for De Havilland Canada, expressed enthusiasm about Skyward Express. “We are thrilled that Skyward Express is continuing to build their fleet of Dash 8-400s with the addition of an aircraft from our newly announced DHC OEM Certified Refurbishment Program,” said Ryan DeBrusk, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for De Havilland Canada. “The Dash 8 is a prominent aircraft in Kenya, and we are proud to be working with Skyward Express, a premier operator in the region.”

Skyward Express has seen remarkable growth, solidifying its position in the Kenyan domestic market. To further support its expansion, the airline is actively acquiring Fokker aircraft. As reported by NewsAero in March this year, Skyward Express received its third Fokker F100 (registration 5Y-SKB, MSN 11369) from Woensdrecht Military Airport in the Netherlands. Additionally, the airline expects to add another Fokker, this time the F70 variant, to its diverse fleet.

Founded in 2013 by a group of Kenyan pilots and investors, Skyward Express initially focused on ad-hoc charters within East Africa. However, it has since expanded significantly and is now a leading carrier in Kenya, serving destinations such as Mombasa, Lamu, Eldoret, Lodwar, Diani/Ukunda, Malindi, Kitale, Kakamega, and Migori.

The airline has ambitious plans to add more regional destinations in the near future. Currently, Skyward Express operates twelve aircraft, including two De Havilland Canada DHC-8-100, one Dash 8-300, three F100s, one F70, and five F50s, according to Planespotters.net.

With the support of De Havilland’s Certified Refurbishment Program and its ongoing acquisition of Fokker aircraft, Skyward Express is well-positioned to continue its impressive growth trajectory and enhance its service offerings across the region.

In addition to the Skyward Express sale, the Tanzania Government Flight Agency (TGFA) also signed a purchase agreement for a DHC OEM Certified Refurbished Dash 8-400 aircraft. The aircraft will be used to enhance domestic air travel within Tanzania and leased to Air Tanzania. The TGFA provides VIP flight services to government officials.

Ryan DeBrusk, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for De Havilland Canada, stated, “The addition of a De Havilland Canada OEM Certified Refurbished Aircraft to the TGFA fleet provides continuity to the TGFA’s growing national airline program.” He emphasized the suitability of the Dash 8 aircraft for enhancing domestic air travel in Tanzania. TGFA provides VIP flight services to government officials and manages all Tanzanian government aircraft, which are leased to Air Tanzania.

Victor Shalton

Author

  • Victor Shalton

    Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Victor’s love for aviation goes way back to when he was 11-years-old. Living close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, he developed a love for planes and he even recalls aspiring to be a future airline executive for Kenya Airways. He also has a passion in the arts and loves writing and had his own aviation blog prior to joining AirlineGeeks. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at DeKUT and aspiring to make a career in a more aviation-related course.

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