Travellers boarding a fly748.com flight. The airline sees growing family travel demand for Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani. /HANDOUT
Affordable air fares and growing interest in domestic tourism have fuelled a surge in demand for flights between Nairobi and the Kenyan Coast during the August school holidays, according to airline Fly748.com.
The airline said it had recorded strong bookings on its Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani routes as more families opted to fly for their holiday getaways instead of travelling by road.
It attributed the increased demand to competitive fares, shorter travel times and a growing preference for local destinations, saying more Kenyans are choosing convenient domestic holidays.
To encourage more travel at the start of the school holiday season, the airline introduced a limited 10 per cent discount on one-way fares during the week schools closed. The offer targeted families, students and leisure travellers looking to manage their travel costs.
Travellers boarding a Fly748.com flight. The airline sees growing family travel demand for Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani./HANDOUT
Fly748.com Head of Scheduled Services George Oduor said air travel is increasingly becoming an affordable and practical choice for families.
"We are seeing more Kenyan families choosing to fly during the school holidays because air travel has become more accessible. What was once considered a luxury is increasingly becoming a practical option for family travel," he said.
Oduor said flying enables travellers to spend less time on the road and more time enjoying their holidays while providing direct access to two of Kenya's leading coastal destinations.
He said operating flights to both Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani gives travellers greater flexibility when planning their holidays.
"By connecting Nairobi with both Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani, we are giving travellers greater choice in how they access the Coast. Our aim is to remove cost and convenience barriers so that more Kenyans can explore their own country," Oduor said.
The airline also said the increase in domestic travel is benefiting businesses that rely on tourism, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport providers and small enterprises serving visitors along the Coast.
According to Oduor, every additional traveller contributes to the wider tourism economy.
"Every additional passenger travelling to the Coast contributes to livelihoods across the tourism value chain. Affordable and dependable air connectivity therefore benefits not only the traveller, but also the communities and businesses serving these destinations," he said.
With school holidays among the busiest travel periods of the year, the airline has urged customers to book their flights early to secure seats and take advantage of the best available fares.
"School holidays are among the busiest travel periods of the year. We encourage customers to plan ahead, and we remain committed to providing safe, reliable and convenient flights that make domestic travel accessible to more Kenyans," Oduor said.
Fly748.com operates scheduled passenger services from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Terminal 2 to Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani, focusing on safety, reliability, convenience and value.
