748 Air Services Makes a Comeback: Domestic Flights Resume This May
The Kenyan domestic aviation sector is about to get a lot busier – and that's great news for anyone looking to fly within the country. After a three-year absence, 748 Air Services is making its return to scheduled domestic passenger flights , kicking off on May 1, 2026.
The airline had originally pulled out of the commercial scene in early 2023 to focus on its humanitarian roots - but it looks like it's now feeling confident enough to go back and take on the market once more as the space finally seems to be starting to pick up again.
The Launch Routes: Putting Nairobi to the Coast
In a calculated move, 748 Air Services is launching its comeback with a focused approach to the most popular leisure and business hotspots in the country.
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Nairobi to Ukunda (Diani): This route is going to be the flagship for the airlines return to the domestic market. As one of the most sought-after destinations at the coast, the service caters for both holidaymakers from the local area, and international visitors heading to the South Coast.
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Nairobi to Mombasa: Even though Ukunda was the route that got all the attention in the initial announcement, its clear that the airline is planning a bigger rollout than that – as booking platforms are already showing availability for the Nairobi-Mombasa route on May 1.
A Brief History: From Lifesaver to Commercial Contender
748 Air Services has been around since the mid-1990s, but the airline really made a name for itself by taking on humanitarian and cargo work flying into some of the toughest regions in Africa – including South Sudan, Somalia and other places that need a reliable lifeline.
The Timeline of the Away & Back:
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May 2021: They first entered the domestic market, launching flights to Kisumu, Mombasa, Diani and the Maasai Mara.
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March 2023: Following a bit of a reality check and citing weak demand, the airline suspended all the domestic scheduled flights to focus on getting back to doing what it does best.
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May 2026: And now they're back – and betting on the post-pandemic travel boom and the improved economic conditions.
Why are they coming back now? Understanding the Strategic Shift
The domestic aviation market in Kenya is an extremely tough place to make a profit – especially when you've got tight profit margins, price sensitive passengers and all sorts of competition from the established players to contend with. So, why now?
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Market Recovery: Well, things have finally started to stabilise a bit in the domestic travel market following the early 2020s.
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Increased Regional Demand: There's a renewed appetite for regional travel - and in particular for that 'bleisure' (business + leisure) thing that people do when they want to mix work with a little bit of relaxation and head off to the coast.
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Proven Reliability: By leaning on all its experience in charter and relief flights, 748 Air Services is hoping it can offer a level of operational reliability to its passengers that they just can't get from the competition.
What this means for travellers
Whenever a new player – or in this case, one that's returned – shakes things up in the market, its passengers who end up as the big winners.
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Better Value for Money: With more choice on the Nairobi-Mombasa and Nairobi-Ukunda routes comes more competitive ticket pricing.
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More Options: Travelers now get to choose from a greater range of departure times, which makes it easier to plan that weekend getaway or day trip.
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Boost for Local Tourism: The return of 748 Air Services to the domestic market is going to put a lot of extra visitors into Diani and Mombasa - which is great news for the local tourism sector.
