Reliance Air Charter, based in Nairobi, Kenya, is the latest entrant into the business aviation segment in Africa. The company operates a Citation VI, a Beechcraft 1900, and a Cessna Caravan. Ceo Chris Mutuku has extensive experience as a pilot, and holds an ATPL with 6,000 hours. He has flown commercially for 16 years. He comments: “I feel there is huge untapped potential here in Kenya, in the business aviation sector. That's what we really want to make the most of. Having acquired the Citation VI, we have been looking at adding a Challenger 600, and these negotiations are in the final stages.”

Mutuku plans to use the Challenger and Citation for high net worth individuals, especially 'corporates' who require transportation across Africa into Europe. He is expecting the Middle East and Asia to be popular destinations too. “We also want to do medevac flights using those two aircraft,” he continues. “We feel we can tap into the tourism sector too, because there are a lot of tourists coming to Kenya who want to use the Caravan. We are really not looking to do scheduled flights, just charter for the clients.”

Reliance is closely linked to its near neighbour Phoenix Aviation, and Mutuku says that the Phoenix team has been crucial in assisting with the project, after it emerged that there was sufficient demand for another operator in Kenya. Adds Mutuku: “We only have two or three corporate operators in Kenya, and the need is huge. But there is also growth in aviation generally in Africa, especially in business aviation.

“We have been looking at the numbers and the forecasts from Bombardier and Cessna, as well as from Boeing and Airbus, and we feel that these numbers are good for us to get into this market.

The Citation was the operator's most recently delivered aircraft. It arrived in April and is yet to complete any charters. The Challenger is anticipated in the next six months and from then on Reliance will also explore the potential of rotary. “We are also looking very keenly into the helicopter market, as there is plenty for us in there. If we are happy with the numbers that we have been receiving then we will be looking at getting one AS350 on lease.”

Reliance rents offices from Phoenix Aviation: “We have been friends with them for a long time and they have been very helpful in helping us set up,” explains Mutuku. “They do a lot of medevac flights, whereas we really want to focus on corporate flying internationally. Many global businesses have bases in Kenya and all over Africa, and we really want to capture that market.”