W@ssup

Kenya’s foremost low-cost carrier, Jambojet, yesterday marked eight years’ anniversary since that inaugural Kisumu-Mombasa-Eldoret flight that marked their landing on the carrier scene. The airline would go on to experience exponential growth and quickly hit their millionth passenger on February 16, 2016 before becoming a market leader with over 44 per cent domestic market share.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, the airline unveiled ‘Jambojet Rewards’, a Loyalty Program that allows passengers to accrue points, which can later be redeemed for special rewards. Think of it as fly points that allow passengers to redeem points on flights, get priority check-in and baggage handling, discount vouchers, and more when they acquire enough points.

“We conduct research studies with our customers to understand their perspective on the areas we are excelling at, and where they would like to see an improvement. The Loyalty Program is an area that keeps coming up and the team has been working on this product over the past two years,” Mr Karanja Ndegwa, Jambojet Managing Director and CEO, said during the launch.

Jambojet operates on 11 routes; From Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi, Kisumu, Ukunda (Diani), Lamu and Goma in Eastern DRC. It also operates flights from Mombasa to Lamu, Eldoret and Kisumu.

The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works, Hon James Njoroge, lauded Jambojet for its contribution to the growth of Kenya’s aviation sector.

“Since Jambojet’s entry in 2014, we have seen the number of air travellers increase by an average of seven percent year-on-year. Jambojet has been a great contributor,” the PS revealed.  

The Loyalty Program comes after the airline launched Cargo Operations in the routes they operate. This is in addition to other innovative initiatives including the #nowtravelready campaign that has greatly spurred domestic travel.

Since its inception, the no-frills airline boasting the coveted IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA registration) has introduced to the region affordable air travel for all, with first-time flyers accounting for about 30 percent of its customers. The airline also launched operations in Lamu and Goma in Eastern DRC in September 2021. In the years of operations, the airline has achieved undeniable business growth; with a fleet comprising of six brand new De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 and flown over 4.9 million passengers.

The Loyalty Program has three tier levels: Emerald, Ruby, and Diamond. Upon signing up for Jambojet Rewards through the Jambojet website (https://www.jambojet.com/rewards), all customers will automatically join the first tier, Emerald. To move on to the second tier, Ruby, one needs to earn 3, 500 points or 40 flights. The third tier is Diamond, and one needs at least 5, 000 points or 60 to join the tier. Each tier has specific benefits ranging from redeeming points for flights, baggage or other ancillary, priority check-in and baggage handling, and discounts on Jambojet services among others.