Jambojet Aims to Be Africa’s Q400 MRO Hub

Kenya’s low-cost carrier Jambojet is expanding its in-house maintenance capabilities for its fleet of De Havilland Canada DHC-8-Q400 turboprops, positioning itself as a regional specialist in the type. The airline, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, currently operates nine leased Q400s and plans to grow the fleet to 11 by 2026 and 16 by 2029. Its most recent addition, a 10.5-year-old aircraft registered 5Y-JXA, joined in June 2025.

CEO Karanja Ndegwa confirmed that Jambojet has gained certification to perform both line and base maintenance, including heavy checks, which began in 2024. The airline has already completed its second in-house C check, with a third scheduled before the end of September. By reducing reliance on external providers, the strategy is designed to lower costs, increase efficiency, and ultimately generate new revenue streams.

Beginning in 2026, Jambojet plans to offer third-party maintenance services focused exclusively on the Q400, aiming to fill a regional gap as other African carriers face high costs and supply chain challenges. However, the airline must overcome significant hurdles, including shortages of spare parts and extended engine shop delays. Some turnaround times for components have increased from 24 hours to nearly a week, while engines now require an average of 250 days for overhaul, forcing the airline to lease replacements.

To support its ambitions, Jambojet is investing in component shop capabilities and infrastructure upgrades. Ndegwa said mastering consistency in heavy checks will be key to scaling up, calling the strategy a potential “game changer” for Africa’s aviation sector.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com