Travel More for Less: Cheap Flights to Kisumu in 2023

Are you looking for a cheap flight to Kisumu? Look no further.

Here is the solution:

To get the cheapest flights to Kisumu, you should book in advance, be flexible on travel dates, use comparison websites, book directly from the airlines’ website and engage with airlines’ social media pages.

In the next sections, I will break down each of these tricks to get the cheapest airfares, list popular airlines and routes to Kisumu, and give you tips to use on your stay and what to do while in the city.

Advance Booking

Try to book your flights weeks or, better yet, months in advance to enjoy the lowest prices. This is especially important if you plan to travel on a holiday or weekends when prices tend to be highest. Airlines usually give discounts to customers who book their flights early.

Flexible on the dates and times

Early morning and late evening flights to Kisumu are more expensive than flights in between. Organise your times of travel to take advantage of this.

The same case applies to the dates of travel. It is usually cheaper to travel on weekdays, especially from Tuesday and Thursday, than it is on weekends and Mondays when the demand is higher.

Price comparison

It is only wise to compare flight prices of the airlines travelling to Kisumu before booking.

For international travellers, use price comparison websites like CheapFlights, Expedia, Kayak, Agoda, Priceline e.t.c and compare the prices for different airlines, routes, and travel time.

Another advantage of using a comparison website is they offer options to use connecting flights instead of direct flights, which tend to be cheaper. The disadvantage of using connecting flights is the long layovers and the jet lag.

For local travellers, there is a comparison website that has most of the local airlines, so you have to do the comparison manually. Visit each airline’s website and note the prices. Sometimes it makes sense to use two different airlines for a round trip if it means you get to save some shillings.

The connecting flight trick also works for local flights. For example, If you are travelling from Mombasa or Malindi to Kisumu, is it cheaper to use a direct flight or to first travel to Nairobi and take another flight to Kisumu? The only drawback with connecting flights locally is the time factor; you have to book the tickets by individually visiting the airline’s website.

Direct Booking

Book your flights to Kisumu directly from the airline’s website instead of using an in-between like a travel agency. The convenience that comes with using a travel agency has a price. They are in business; they have to pay the bills and the employees.

Engage with the Airlines

I don’t mean you message them asking for cheap flights.

No, follow them on social media and subscribe to the email alerts. That way, you are the first to know when they announce offers.

Popular Airlines and Routes to Kisumu

Flights from Nairobi to Kisumu

There are two flight routes from Nairobi to Kisumu. One from JKIA (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport), the busiest airport in East Africa and another from Wilson Airport, a very convenient airport for accessing Kenya’s interior.

The flight from both Airports to Kisumu usually takes around an hour.

Flights from JKIA to Kisumu

Kenya Airways, Jambo and 748 Air services airlines have flights from JKIA to Kisumu. Jambo Jet and Kenya Airways (KQ) operate from Terminal 1D for local flights like the ones to Kisumu, while 748 operates from Terminal 2.

Kenya Airways Flights to Kisumu

KQ has three daily flights to Kisumu, in the morning, midday and evening. They allow 23kg of free checked in luggage and 10kg of cabin luggage.

Jambo Jet Flights to Kisumu

Jambojet has five daily flights to Kisumu, 6 am, 9 am,11am,3pm and 5 pm. Their prices tend to be cheaper compared to KQ flights, especially during the off-peak seasons. They only allow 10kg of free cabin luggage. Anything above that is charged.

748 Air Services to Kisumu

They tend to have the cheapest airfares to Kisumu at JKIA. They have two weekly flights(Friday and Sunday) from JKIA to Kisumu. They allow 15kg free carrier/check-in luggage.

Flights from Wilson Airport to Kisumu

Only two airlines have flights from Wilson Airport to Kisumu - Renegade Air and Safarilink.

Renegade Air to Kisumu

The airline has three daily flights from Wilson Airport to Kisumu, 7 am, 10 am and 7 pm flights. They allow up to 20kg of free carrier/check-in luggage.

Safarilink to Kisumu

It operates four daily flights to Kisumu; 7 am, 11 am, 3 pm and 6 pm flights.

They allow 15Kg free baggage allowance.

Flights from Mombasa to Kisumu

You can opt to take a direct flight or connecting flight from Mombasa to Kisumu. In both cases, there is a layover either at JKIA or Eldoret International Airport.

JamboJet from Mombasa to Kisumu

This is a direct flight from Mombasa to Kisumu with a 20 minutes layover at Eldoret International Airport.

The flight takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes. The daily flight departs from Mombasa at 10 am and arrives in Kisumu at around 1 pm.

Kenya Airways from Mombasa to Kisumu

They have a connecting flight from Mombasa to Kisumu with a layover at JKIA. The layover can be long as 4 hours.

Tips on Your Stay in Kisumu

• The temperature in Kisumu is usually above 24°c, so carry light clothing, but don't forget to carry a light jacket just in case the weather changes.
• Carry mosquito repellent. There tend to be a lot of mosquitoes in the evenings. Malaria is nobody's friend.
• Make sure to check the terms and conditions of your flight, like baggage allowance and prohibited goods. It is cheaper to pay for extra baggage during checkout than at the airport.
• Learn a few Dholuo words like greetings and asking for directions to easily with the natives.
• Always check the local health and safety guidelines when travelling to Kisumu.

About Kisumu International Airport

It is the only airport in Kisumu and the main airport serving most of the regions in Western Kenya.

Kisumu Airport is about 15 minutes from Kisumu’s central business district (6.2km).

To and from the airport, you can use a taxi-hailing app, a normal taxi or a motorcycle if you are on a budget.

The most reliable taxi-hailing apps in Kisumu are Uber and Dango cabs.

Motorcycles are not allowed within the airport. To board one, you have to walk to the main airport, around 150 metres from the airport’s picking point.

What to do in Kisumu

There are a lot of activities you can do while in Kisumu, ranging from indulging in the traditional cuisine, enjoying the crazy nightlife, a boat ride at Dunga Beach, or just chilling by the show of the lake and enjoying the magnificent sunset.