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Low-cost and traditional airlines

  • Over 950 airlines
  • Kenya Airways, Air Jamaica, Precision Air
  • Ethiopian Airlines, Skyward Express
  • Flights up to 50% off

Tips on flying with budget airlines

Before booking your flight tickets you may be wondering how to reduce the cost of your trip as much as possible.

  • Remember that when you’re flying with a budget carrier there’s no place for mistakes as each one can cost you an arm and a leg. Although your airfare may be cheap, each additional service is paid extra. This applies to any changes to your booking too. For instance, you’ll have to pay a fee to have your name changed on your tickets if you make a spelling mistake or if you change your mind and want to fly at an earlier or a later date.

  • Meals are hardly ever served on board budget airlines’ planes free of charge, so don’t fly on an empty stomach and pack your own food in your carry-on bag which you can bring on board. Most airlines allow it, but some restrictions are depending on the carrier so before you do it, check the airline policy on passengers’ own food to avoid confusion.

  • Another way to save money when booking your tickets with a low-cost airline is to fly light. Most budget carriers allow passengers to bring one carry-on bag plus one personal item on board a plane. To have the extra baggage allowance, you can buy it at an additional charge. Be well-prepared and, if you can, pack in the carry-on bag which you will be able to transport for free. Remember to measure and weigh it to adhere to the maximum allowance.

Airlines ranking

  Airline Ticket prices Comfort Punctuality Staff Overall rating No. of reviews
1. Kenya Airways Kenya Airways (KQ) 3.9 3.8 4.3 4.5 4 26
2. Jambojet Jambojet (JM) 4 4.3 4.3 4.8 4.2 4
3. Precision Air Precision Air (PW) 3 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.1 11
4. Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines (ET) 3.9 3.9 4.1 4.1 3.9 38
5. Skyward Express Skyward Express (OW) 3.3 3.7 2.7 3.7 3.4 3
6. KLM KLM (KL) 3.6 4.1 4.1 4.5 4.1 551
7. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways (QR) 4 4.3 4.5 4.7 4.4 239
8. Emirates Emirates (EK) 4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.4 193
9. Delta Airlines Delta Airlines (DL) 3.8 3.9 4.3 4.4 4.1 467
10. Rwandair Express Rwandair Express (WB) 3.5 3.5 3.6 4 3.6 11

Airlines flying to and from Kenya

There are numerous airlines serving flights to this country, both world’s major carriers and local ones.

  • Nairobi and Mombasa are Kenya’s most popular tourist destinations. Depending on the point you are flying from, the two cities are served by major carriers, such as British Airways, KLM, Emirates Airlines, Lufthansa, Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

  • Local budget carriers that fly within Kenya include Jambojet, African Express Airways, Mombasa Air Safari, Fly540, Safarilink Aviation, East African Safari Air, and Airkenya Express, while Kenya Airways is the flag carrier of Kenya, with its primary hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It flies to Kisumu, Malindi, Mombasa, and Nairobi.

  • No carriers currently offer non-stop flights to Kenya from the United States. International passengers can choose from the airlines such as British Airways, KLM, Emirates, Delta, American Airlines, Air France, Korean Air, United, Jet Airways, Saudia, and Condor, to name but a few.

Which airlines operate the shortest flights to Kenya?

Below you will find an average duration of flights to Kenya, depending on the point of origin.

  • The routes from the U.S.A to Kenya include flights to Nairobi from: Atlanta on Turkish Airlines (the shortest flight duration is 21 hours 45 minutes); Los Angeles on Turkish Airlines (the shortest flight duration is 22 hours 05 minutes); Chicago on United Airlines (the shortest flight duration is 17 hours 40 minutes); Dallas on Qatar Airways (the shortest flight duration is 20 hours 55 minutes). All of the routes include one layover.

  • The routes from Europe to Kenya include flights to Nairobi from: London with Qatar Airways (the shortest flight duration is 13 hours 25 minutes); Paris with Qatar Airways (the shortest flight duration is 13 hours 20 minutes); Frankfurt on KLM (the shortest flight duration is 13 hours 05 minutes); Amsterdam on KLM (the shortest flight duration is 8 hours 0 minutes); Barcelona on Emirates (the shortest flight duration is 13 hours 20 minutes). All of the routes include one layover.

  • Domestic flights within Kenya are operated by local carriers mainly between Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Malindi. It takes 1 hour 0 minutes to fly between Mombasa and Nairobi on Kenya Airways; 0 hours 50 minutes between Kisumu and Nairobi on Kenya Airways; 1 hour 05 minutes between Malindi and Nairobi on East African Safari Air Express. A flight between Kisumu and Mombasa lasts 2 hours 50 minutes on Kenya Airways, while it takes 5 hours 10 minutes to fly from Malindi to Mombasa including one layover.

When do airlines offer the cheapest airfares?

  • To save big on your trip to Kenya, except for cheap airline tickets, choose the right time to fly. You can do a little research and use eSky tools, such as price calendars, to easily spot the cheapest days.

  • June-September is peak season across the country which means that flight tickets are very pricey. Never plan your trip for peak season as there’s very little chance of finding a cheap flight then.

  • But don’t worry, you can find great deals on flights off-season - during the rainy months from March to June and from October to December, when the airfare tends to cost a fraction of an average price.

  • Which airline to fly with

    Are you having a problem deciding which airline will be the best to travel to Kenya? We have a solution for every traveler who is struggling with this difficulty and it is simpler than you would think as it only takes a couple of minutes to find and book your perfect flight. Go to the eSky search engine and enter your home airport and destination. Then choose your dates and number of travelers and hit “Search.

  • All airlines in one place

    Take advantage of every traveler’s helper that is the eSky search engine and find all the necessary travel details in one place. You no longer need to wade through numerous airlines’ websites to find the information you are looking for. With the eSky search engine, you can compare available offers and check information on the potential airlines that you can fly with, including services you will be offered while enjoying your time in the air.