KCAA Issues Air Service Licenses to 38 Airlines

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Grants Air Service Licenses to 38 Operators

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has issued air service licenses to 38 aviation operators, marking a significant development in the country’s aviation sector. This decision was made following applications previously published in the Kenya Gazette Notice No. 18314 of December 11, 2025, as outlined in a gazette notice dated March 7.

According to the notice, the approvals were granted in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act and the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations, 2018 (Regulation 28). The KCAA emphasized that the decisions align with aviation licensing regulations governing scheduled, non-scheduled, and aerial work services within Kenya and internationally.

Some of the licensed operators are authorized to conduct specialized services such as emergency medical air transport, aerial surveys, flying instruction, and sightseeing operations. These additional services reflect the growing diversity of aviation activities in the region.

Approved Airlines and Their Services

Here is a detailed list of the airlines that received air service licenses, along with the type of services they are authorized to operate:

• European Cargo Limited– International non-scheduled cargo (Cardiff–Nairobi), Licence granted for 1 year
• Smartwings Hungary KFT– Charter passenger flights (Budapest–Hurghada–Mombasa), Licence granted for 1 year
• Miracle Experience Tanzania Ltd– Non-scheduled passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Fly Mode Flight Centre Ltd– Variation to include B737 aircraft, Variation approved
• Jubba Airways Ltd– Variation to include B737 aircraft, Variation approved
• Transafrican Air Ltd– Variation to include E120 aircraft, Variation approved
• AirKenya Express Ltd– Added route Wilson–Arusha, Variation approved
• Safarilink Aviation Ltd– Multiple additional regional routes, Variation approved
• Africa Eco-Adventures Ltd– Additional operating bases in parks, Variation approved
• Daallo Airlines (Kenya) Ltd– Domestic and international passenger, cargo, and mail services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Bluebird Aviation Ltd– Domestic and international scheduled services, Licence granted
• Twinstar Aviation Ltd– Passenger/cargo and aerial work services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Capital Connect Aviation Supplies Ltd– Passenger/cargo services and flight training, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Advantage Air Travel Ltd– Cargo air services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Hamco Aviation Ltd– Passenger, emergency medical, and aerial work services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Muhwai Ltd– Passenger services, medical evacuation, and aerial work, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• West Rift Aviation Ltd– Flying instructions, Licence granted for 3 years
• SAC (K) Ltd– International passenger and cargo services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Jetways Airlines Ltd– International passenger and cargo services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted

Other airlines that received licenses include Daallo Airlines, Bluebird Aviation, Seven Four Eight Air Services, Buffair Services, and Jambojet, covering a mix of domestic and international scheduled, non-scheduled, and cargo operations.

Extended Licenses for Select Operators

Some operators received extended licenses based on the nature of their services. For example:

• Seven Four Eight Air Services Ltd– Domestic and international passenger/cargo services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Penial Air Ltd– Passenger, cargo, and aerial services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Buffair Services Ltd– Domestic and international services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Jambojet Ltd– Domestic scheduled and non-scheduled services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Mombasa Air Safari Ltd– Passenger, cargo, and aerial work services, Licence granted for 3 years
• Flight Training Centre Ltd– Flight training and charter services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Poriny Air Service Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Nexen Air Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Fly Mode Flight Centre Ltd– Scheduled cargo and mail routes, Licence granted for 1 year
• DragonFly Aviation Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Ensign Group Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Facil Airlines Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Ebblink Aviation Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Volare Aviation E.A Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Mt. Kenya Flight School Ltd– Passenger, aerial work and training, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Happy Elephant Experience Ltd– Hot air balloon passenger services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Fajr Airlines Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year
• Ramani Geosystems Ltd– Passenger, cargo and aerial work services, 3-year & 1-year licences granted
• Jetafric Airways Ltd– Passenger and cargo services, Licence granted for 1 year

Most of the licenses were granted for one year, effective January 29, 2026, while others received three-year approvals depending on the category of service applied for.