Kenyan families are increasingly choosing to fly to the Coast during the August school holidays, with regional airline fly748.com reporting a surge in bookings on its Nairobi–Mombasa and Nairobi–Ukunda/Diani routes.
The airline says the growing demand reflects a shift in travel habits, with more families opting for faster, more affordable domestic air travel rather than long road journeys to popular coastal destinations.
According to fly748.com, the seasonal increase in passenger numbers has been driven by competitive fares, shorter travel times and growing interest in domestic tourism as Kenyans take advantage of the school holiday break.
Discount offer boosted bookings
To encourage travel at the start of the holiday season, the airline introduced a limited 10 per cent discount on one-way fares during the week schools closed.
The promotion targeted families, students and leisure travellers looking to reduce travel costs while planning holiday trips to the Coast.
The airline noted that the discounted fares helped make air travel more accessible during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.
‘Air travel has become more accessible’
fly748.com Head of Scheduled Services George Oduor said domestic aviation is becoming an increasingly practical option for many Kenyan families.
“We are seeing more Kenyan families choosing to fly during the school holidays because air travel has become more accessible. What was once considered a luxury is increasingly becoming a practical option for family travel,” said Oduor.
He noted that flying allows families to spend less time travelling and more time enjoying their holidays while offering direct access to two of Kenya’s leading beach destinations.
“By connecting Nairobi with both Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani, we are giving travellers greater choice in how they access the Coast. Our aim is to remove cost and convenience barriers so that more Kenyans can explore their own country,” he said.
Boost for domestic tourism
Beyond passenger convenience, the airline says increased domestic travel is also generating economic benefits for businesses that depend on tourism.
Oduor observed that every additional traveller contributes to the broader tourism value chain, including hotels, restaurants, transport providers, tour operators and small enterprises serving visitors.
“Every additional passenger travelling to the Coast contributes to livelihoods across the tourism value chain. Affordable and dependable air connectivity therefore benefits not only the traveller, but also the communities and businesses serving these destinations,” said Oduor.
The Coast remains one of Kenya’s busiest tourism destinations during school holidays, attracting thousands of domestic travellers to beaches, resorts and marine attractions in Mombasa and Diani.
Industry players have increasingly identified domestic tourism as an important source of business, particularly during periods when international visitor arrivals fluctuate.
Travellers urged to book early
With demand expected to remain high throughout the August school holidays, fly748.com has advised customers to secure seats in advance.
“School holidays are among the busiest travel periods of the year. We encourage customers to plan ahead, and we remain committed to providing safe, reliable and convenient flights that make domestic travel accessible to more Kenyans,” he said.
The airline currently operates scheduled passenger services from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Terminal 2 to Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani, providing travellers with direct access to two of Kenya’s most popular coastal destinations.
The latest travel surge comes as domestic tourism continues to play an increasingly significant role in Kenya’s tourism industry, with airlines and hospitality operators introducing competitive offers aimed at encouraging more Kenyans to explore local destinations during holiday periods.
