Fly 748 Air Services has officially stopped domestic commercial flights in Kenya barely two years after venturing the market in June 2021.
748 operated flights to local destinations including Mombasa, Malindi, Diani, Kisumu and Maasai Mara. It attributes its decision to stop domestic flights to a change in business strategy that will see it focus on humanitarian aviation as its core business.
The Airline was established to focus on humanitarian aviation to majorly deliver emergency food and supplies, development supplies, support equipment and to provide emergency extraction of personnel in conflict areas across East and Central Africa.
“After an extensive review of our business strategy, we have opted to focus on our core business, the Humanitarian Aviation, currently operating in 7 African countries.
“We therefore regret to inform you that we have resolved to suspend all our Domestic Scheduled Commercial Flights effective 1st March 2023.” 748 said in a statement.
The carrier further disclosed that it will keep its airline reservation system (ARS) open until 30th June 2023, to allow processing of refunds for travelers who had purchased advance tickets.
Besides humanitarian aviation, Fly 748 is also involved in the transportation of natural resources, with several clients in oil and gas industry including Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC) and Greater Pioneer Operating Company.
It also works with various governments to provide aircrafts on demand, transporting passengers and large cargo consignments.
The move to exit the Kenyan market will leave other carriers like Jambojet, Safarilink and Renegade Air, which operate in the same market smiling.
748 first suspended operations on the Nairobi- Kisumu route last week and has now stopped flying to Mombasa, Diani, Malindi and Maasai Mara indicating that the business has been under-performing.
“We are only suspending the domestic flights until further notice …..We intend to employ all our assets and staff in our core business. Our core business has always been humanitarian aviation with domestic scheduled flights contributing less than 10 percent of our business,” said managing director Moses Mwangi.
