Jambo Jet (Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)) is set to launch "later this year" using a fleet of three B737-300s leased from parent carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)), the Group's CEO, Titus Naikuni has said. He added that while he is "cautiously optimistic" following the completion of market analysis, the project still requires board approval so as not repeat the mistakes of the airline's previous LCC, Flamingo Airlines (F7, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)), which ended in failure. As an independent entity from Kenya Airways, Jambo Jet will initially focus on domestic operations to Mombasa Moi International (MBA), Eldoret International (EDL) and Kisumu (KIS), before going regional. However, in the long run, Naikuni expects it to take over "some but not all" of the Kenyan national carrier's domestic routes, thereby allowing it to focus on long haul flights. Jambo Jet's rival, Regional Air Lines (FN, Casablanca Mohamed V International (CMN)), has yet to make its début in Kenyan skies, though with the recent move to resolve its legal dispute with Don Smith of Fly540 (5H, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)) and a further tie up with JetLink Express (J0, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)) still in the offing, it is only a question of time before Kenya sees its own battle of the LCCs.

Fastjet (FN, Dar-es-Salaam (DAR)) has announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Don Smith, CEO of FiveForty Aviation Limited which trades in Kenya as Fly540 (5H, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)), thereby paving the way forward for the two to end a long standing legal battle over payment and licensing agreements in Africa. The MoU includes, among other provisions, an agreement by both parties to stop legal proceedings in order that mutually beneficial and constructive resolutions are discussed and implemented. The disputes revolved around alleged non-payment by fastjet for its acquisition of a controlling interest in Fly540, and a failure by Smith to hand over all the necessary documents to complete the transfer of control of Fly540 to fastjet.

Fly540 (5H, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)) CEO Don Smith has announced that the Kenyan regional carrier would have withdrawn the Fly540 brand license for Fastjet (FN, Dar-es-Salaam (DAR)) asking the low-cost carrier to stop using the Fly540 brand for its operations in Angola, Ghana and Tanzania within a week. Fastjet had acquired Lonrho Aviation in 2012 and now controls regional carriers Fly540 Angola (F5, Luanda 4 De Fevereiro (LAD)), Fly540 Ghana (5G, Accra Kotoka (ACC)) and Fly540 Tanzania (FTZ, Dar-es-Salaam (DAR)) which had been set-up by Lonrho as Fly540 franchise operators. Fastjet has refused the statements by Fly540 as "false and damaging" saying that it had already paid to acquire the Fly540 brand and would take legal action against Fly540 if Smith would continue to "create" issues. It says it had agreed with Smith and his partners to acquire Fly540 in Kenya as well but would now go ahead and work with JetLink Express (J0, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)) instead. Fly540 Angola operates two ATR 72-200s and an ATR 72-500, Fly540 Ghana operates an EMB-170 and an ATR 72-500. Both carriers are expected to be rebranded as Fastjet at a later stage.

Fastjet (FN, Dar-es-Salaam (DAR)) CEO Ed Winter has confirmed that the low-cost carrier is curently in talks with the owners of JetLink Express (J0, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)) about a potential acquisition of the regional carrier that had been forced to temporarily suspend operations on November 16 due to financial difficulties. Fastjet is mainly interested in the traffic rights JetLink holds for international services from Kenya where it already controls regional low-cost carrier Fly540 (5H, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)). Tanzanian subsidiary Fly540 Tanzania (FTZ, Dar-es-Salaam (DAR)) currently operates three A319-100s for Fastjet on domestic flights in Tanzania and Fastjet is widely expected to enter Kenya as the next African market besides a similar acquisition of 1time airline (T6, Johannesburg Oliver Reginald Tambo International (JNB)) currently being discussed in South Africa. Fastjet has recently come under fire from original Fly540 investor Donald Smith who has sued the LCC alleging it of not honouring an agreement to repay old debts of Fly540 Smith had personally guaranteed for with a Kenyan bank.

Fastjet (FN, Dar-es-Salaam (DAR)) CEO Ed Winter has confirmed that it plans to replace sister carrier Fly540 (5H, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)) next after launching initial operations with three A319-100s in Tanzania. It then plans to launch operations in Ghana thereafter with Angola currently being #4 on the priority list.