Kenya’s Skyward Express Expands Internationally

These flights will be operated using Fokker 100 aircraft.

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

[ Routes ]October 2, 2024 2:33 pm ET

By Victor Shalton

Skyward Express, a Kenyan private airline, is preparing to launch a new route to Dar es Salaam, marking its first international expansion. Starting November 15, 2024, the airline will offer non-stop flights from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam three times a week on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. These flights will be operated using Fokker 100 aircraft, as announced on September 26, 2024.

This new service will introduce competition to a route already served by Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, and Precision Air. It will also be Skyward Express’ second route from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, bringing the airline’s total route network to 10. The service is designed to attract both business travelers and tourists looking for convenient travel options between the two cities.

While Skyward Express primarily operates from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, this new route strengthens its presence at JKIA. Earlier in September, the airline acquired its first Dash 8-400 aircraft (previously operated by Horizon Airlines) as part of De Havilland Canada’s newly launched OEM Certified Refurbishment Program. This program includes the installation of new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A engines.

Additionally, Skyward Express also received its third Fokker F100 (registration 5Y-SKB, MSN 11369), which arrived in Nairobi on March 8, 2024, after stopovers in Luxembourg, El Alamein, and Djibouti. This is the airline’s second F100 delivery within a month, following the arrival of MSN 11395 on February 10, and the first delivery (MSN 11416) in June 2023.

With these new additions, Skyward Express now operates three Dash 8 aircraft, alongside a fleet that includes one Dash 8-300, one Dash 8-100, three Fokker 100s (with another expected soon), one Fokker 70, and two Fokker 50s. Established in 2013 and based at Wilson Airport, the airline primarily serves Kenya’s domestic market.

Founded by a group of Kenyan pilots and investors, Skyward Express initially focused on ad hoc charters within East Africa. Over the years, the airline has significantly expanded its operations, becoming one of the leading carriers in the Kenyan domestic market. It currently offers flights to destinations such as Mombasa, Lamu, Eldoret, Lodwar, Diani/Ukunda, Malindi, Kitale, Kakamega, and Migori, with plans to add more regional destinations soon.

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Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

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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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