Jetlink Express, a Kenyan domestic and regional airline, based at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, will become the first Kenyan operator of the BAe 146 regional jet when it takes delivery in mid-July of a Series 100 aircraft that it is leasing from Albanian Airlines.

The aircraft has been acquired on a six-month ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) lease to replace the Bombardier CRJ-200 that is used to serve the popular local destination of Kisumi, west of Nairobi. Jetlink operates three daily flights to Kisumi which is adjacent to Lake Victoria.

The runway at Kisumi is being reconstructed for six months with effect from July 30th resulting in only 1200 metres being available which renders it unsuitable for the CRJ200. By contrast, the BAe 146-100 has the airfield performance and economics to operate this service with a good payload even from the reduced length runway.

Albanian Airlines currently operates three BAe 146s (one each of all three variants), but with the recent wet-lease of a MD82 by the airline, the Series 100 is used as a back-up aircraft and so was available to undertake this contract.

Mr. Mohammed El Azizy, President of Albanian Airlines said: “We are delighted to launch BAe 146 services in Kenya on behalf of Jetlink Express and are grateful to BAE Systems Asset Management for their help to facilitate this opportunity.”

Captain Elly Aluvale, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Jetlink Express was equally ecstatic at the prospect of the BAe 146 joining their current fleet of five aircraft (4 x CRJ200 and 1 x F28-4000).