Approved: 24 airline, service operators, flying schools newly licensed in Kenya
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority published decisions on 30 new air service licences via Gazette Notice No. 12173 dated August 4, 2026
- Licences covered international cargo carriers, domestic charter operators, aerial work specialists, and flying schools across Kenya
- Operators from Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Tanzania, and Kenya received approvals, with licence periods ranging from one to three years
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has issued new air service licences to 30 operators across a range of aviation categories, from international cargo airlines to local flying schools.
The decisions were formalised in Gazette Notice No. 12173 dated August 4, 2026, following an earlier advertisement of applications in Gazette Notice No. 4166 of March 19, 2026.
The licences were granted under the Civil Aviation Act No. 21 of 2013 and the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations, 2025.
International and Regional Operators Licensed
Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation (Saudia) was among the prominent international operators, receiving a two-year licence for non-scheduled international cargo services across 12 routes, including Jeddah-Nairobi and Jeddah-Eldoret-Nairobi, using B777, B747, and A330 aircraft. My Freighter DBA Centrum Air from Uzbekistan and five Tanzanian carriers were approved for various operations.
International Operators Granted Licences
No. | Operator Name | Country | Type of Service | Aircraft Type | Licence Period |
1 | Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation (Saudia) | Saudi Arabia | International non-scheduled cargo on 12 routes | B777, B747, A330 | 2 years (from 14/01/2026) |
2 | My Freighter DBA Centrum Air | Uzbekistan | Variation to include Sharjah-Eldoret-Nairobi-Sharjah route | - | Period of existing licence |
Tanzanian Operators Granted Licences
No. | Operator Name | Type of Service | Aircraft Type | Licence Period |
1 | Tanzanian Air Services Limited | International non-scheduled passenger, cargo & mail | B350, B200, C406 | 2 years (from 12/02/2026) |
2 | Air Excel Limited | International non-scheduled passenger | L410, C208 | 1 year (from 12/02/2026) |
3 | Tropic Helicopters Limited | International non-scheduled passenger, cargo & mail; self-fly hire | AS350 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
4 | Regional Air Services Limited | International non-scheduled passenger | C208, DHC8 | 2 years (from 14/12/2025) |
5 | Coastal Travels Limited (Coastal Air) | International non-scheduled passenger & cargo | C208, PC12 | 2 years (from 16/04/2026) |
6 | Level Up Aviation Limited | International non-scheduled passenger, cargo & emergency medical | AS350, AS355N | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
Kenyan Operators Across Multiple Categories
Among Kenyan-based scheduled operators, Freedom Airline Express Limited secured a three-year domestic scheduled services licence covering 20 routes, including Nairobi-Mombasa, Nairobi-Kisumu, Nairobi-Eldoret, Nairobi-Wajir, and Nairobi-Mandera.
Kenya-Based Charter and Non-Scheduled Operators
No. | Operator Name | Type of Service | Aircraft Type | Licence Period |
1 | Ismax Airline Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled passenger, cargo & mail | C208 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
2 | Sos and Chris Aviation Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled passenger; flying instructions | Hughes MD500 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
3 | Trident Aviation (K) Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled cargo | F27MK 50, D228, C208 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
4 | Z. Boskovic Air Charters Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled passenger, cargo & mail; aerial work | C208, B200, C206 | 3 years (from 29/04/2026) |
5 | Ventura Aviation Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled passenger, cargo & mail; aerial work | AS350 | 3 years for domestic (19/10/2026); 1 year for international & aerial work (29/07/2026) |
6 | Northwood Agencies Limited | International non-scheduled passenger, cargo & mail; emergency medical services | H125, H130 | 3 years (from 18/01/2026) |
7 | Rotorjet Aviation Company Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled passenger, cargo, mail & emergency medical; aerial work | AS350 B3, R44, EC130, R66 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
8 | Youth Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled passenger & cargo; aerial work | AS350 | 3 years (from 14/03/2026) |
9 | Level Up Limited | International & domestic non-scheduled passenger; aerial work | AS350 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
10 | Sicham Aviation Limited | International non-scheduled passenger, cargo, self-fly; aerial work; flying instructions | AS350 B2, H269 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
Domestic Scheduled Operators Granted Licences
No. | Operator Name | Type of Service | Aircraft Type | Licence Period |
1 | Freedom Airline Express Limited | Domestic scheduled passenger, cargo & mail | CRJ200, FK50, E120 | 3 years (from 26/04/2026) |
2 | Scenic Air Safaris Limited | Domestic scheduled passenger, cargo & mail | C208, C206, PC12 | 3 years (from 16/04/2026) |
Four flying schools were among the newly licensed operators. Ram Air Limited and ALS Limited each received one-year licences for pilot training using Cessna 172 aircraft at Malindi Airport and Wilson Airport respectively.
No. | Operator Name | Type of Service | Aircraft Type | Licence Period |
1 | Ram Air Limited | Flying instructions | C172 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
2 | ALS Limited | Flying instructions | C172 | 1 year (from 29/07/2026) |
3 | Pegasus Flyers (E.A) Limited | Flying instructions | C172 | 3 years (from 16/04/2026) |
4 | Standards Aviation Limited | Flying instructions | C172, BE76 | 3 years (from 14/03/2026) |
Notably, not all applications were approved in full. Aerospace Consortium Limited was denied the scheduled cargo services it had applied for on routes including JKIA-Juba, JKIA-Mogadishu, JKIA-Mwanza, and JKIA-Goma, though it did receive approval for non-scheduled cargo and mail operations. Tropic Helicopters Limited was similarly not granted the aerial work services it had sought.
The licences span five broad service categories: international non-scheduled services, domestic non-scheduled services, domestic scheduled services, aerial work, and flying instruction. Licence durations of one to three years reflect the KCAA's assessment of each operator's service type and regulatory compliance.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.