Standard Reporter
30 July 2007
Nairobi — FLY540, Kenya's low cost airline has expanded its fleet with the addition of a Dash 8 -100.
The new aircraft will initially be used for the services to the Maasai Mara from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, as well as to Mombasa and Malindi.
Dash 8-100 aircraft, which are popular because of their short take off and landing capability for flights using short runways, are manufactured by De Haviland of Canada and are widely used in Africa.
The aircraft selected by Fly540 carries a maximum of 37 passengers and has a range of 1,200 miles with a cruising altitude of 25,000 feet.
Mr Don Smith, the Fly540 Chief Executive Officer, said turbo prop aircraft are fuel-efficient and operate at relatively low altitudes, which means they have less impact on the ozone layer and the upper atmosphere than jets. "The good fuel consumption coupled with our no frills approach enables us to provide low cost value for money travel," he said.
Last week, Fly540 introduced flights between Nairobi and Eldoret in response to requests from potential passengers due to the poor state of roads in Western Kenya.
The three weekly services to Eldoret via Kisumu operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The flights leave Nairobi at 8.15am to arrive in Eldoret at 9.40am, with return fares of Sh7,540 exclusive of taxes.
Announcing the new route, Mr Neil Steffen, the Chief Operating Officer of Fly540, said: "Customers wishing to travel between Eldoret and Kisumu will also benefit as the flights will carry passengers to and from both these destinations at a single fare of 2,000 shillings and 3,000 shillings for a return journey."
The low cost airline has spread its wings rapidly and now flies from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Kisumu and the Maasai Mara. More than 50,000 passengers have flown with the airline since it first launched its flights to Mombasa eight months ago.
Meanwhile, Swiss International Air Lines has won the 'best European network carrier' and has also been voted third in the 'best Intercontinental carrier' category by the German Capital Magazine.
Swiss and its hub Zurich were earlier this year voted as the best airline for Europe and best major European airport and hub by the same magazine during the Business Traveler Awards.
The airline, which earlier this year earned third place overall in the " best airline to the Middle East and Africa category," has refurbished its entire fleet of the airbus A320 family.
Swiss Air General Manager (Kenya), Mr Yves-Alain Yersin said: "Plans are underway to refurbish the entire fleet of Airbus A330s in all classes that ply the Zurich- Nairobi route.
We intend to fly first class in this market and to implement fully lie-flat seats in Business Class."
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