Silverstone Air Announces New Eldoret Route, Flying Twice Daily

Local low-cost carrier Silverstone Air is launching a new Eldoret route flying twice daily from May 31, 2019.

New route

In an interview with The Standard, Silverstone Air Sales Manager Patrick Oketch said that flights will commence from its hub at Wilson Airport to Eldoret International Airport. The maiden flight will depart at 0715hrs and arrive at its Eldoret destination at 0800hrs. The return flight from Eldoret Airport will leave at 0830hrs and will arrive at Wilson Airport, Nairobi at 0800hrs.

Oketch added that the airline would be deploying a modern Dash 8 – 300 aircraft. He feels that the connection will be ideal for passengers traveling from Mombasa to Eldoret and vice versa. This will enable them to use the early Mombasa flight to Nairobi before connecting to the Eldoret flight.

The entry of Silverstone Air into the Eldoret route will increase competition on a route that is currently served by several carriers. They include Fly 540, Jambojet and Kenya Airways among others. This may mean lower costs of flying to passengers as airlines compete for customers.

Other routes in Kenya

The Sales Manager also announced that the carrier will introduce flights to Wajir, effective June 6, 2019. They will utilize a 37-seater airplane for this flight.

In April 2018, Silverstone Air increased the number of flights plying the Nairobi-Kisumu route from 14 to 17 trips a week. This is in addition to flights from Kisumu to Mombasa going up to three flights per week from a previous two.

The carrier also offers flights to other destinations in the country such as Ukunda, Maasai Mara National Park and Malindi.

These flights are designed to attract a target market of tourists from the Western and Coastal regions; with a one-way ticket between Kisumu and Mombasa ranging from Sh4,500 to Sh10,000. This is the only route in Kenya currently being served directly by an airline.

Flying regional

The budget carrier recently disclosed the introduction of regional flights after getting the approval to operate beyond the country’s borders.

In the airline’s first venture outside Kenya, it will introduce flights to South Sudan, Tanzania, Juba, and Mwanza.