Kenyan operators of Fokker 27 and F50 types are unaffected in the short term by a new ban imposed this month by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on the import of the types for operations, the regulator has announced. However, long-term, the Fokker Aircraft F27/F50s will be phased out.

"No new applications for type acceptance, registration, or certificate of airworthiness issuance for the above aircraft types shall be processed," the authority said in a statement. "Existing aircraft of the same types already on the Kenyan register may continue to operate only until de-registration, or permanent grounding, whichever comes first, after stakeholder engagement, subject to continuous compliance with applicable safety requirements."

The KCAA explained that its prohibition on the importation of F50 and F27 types, effective November 1, 2025, was motivated by safety concerns related to their age and maintenance challenges.

The restriction does not apply to F27 and F50 aircraft operated under foreign registration, conducting overflights or technical stops in Kenyan airspace, it explained.

The authority did not disclose the specific safety concerns that had informed its decision. ch-aviation has contacted the KCAA for more information.

According to ch-aviation fleet data, there are at least twenty-one F50s and seven F50(F)s still being operated in Kenya by 11 carriers: Advantage Air, AeroSpace Consortium, Buffair Services, Freedom Airline Express, i-Fly Air, Jetlite Air, Renegade Air, Rudufu, Jetways Airlines, Skyward Airlines, and Jubba Airways (Kenya). Those with the biggest Fokker fleets include Renegade Air, Skyward Airlines, and Jetways Airlines. Safari Express Cargo is the only operator of one F27-400.

As previously reported, Jubba Airways (Kenya) has already sold one F50 and one F50(F) operated by Somalian sister carrier Jubba Airways to Ituri Airlines in DR Congo.

Skyward Airlines recently told ch-aviation that the KCAA's Fokker import ban was anticipated, resulting in operators changing their fleet strategy, although the airline hopes to continue using the type for the next five to ten years.

Fokker turboprops have long been popular among operators in Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan, due to their reliability, operational suitability for rough landing strips, and cost-effectiveness for regional and domestic services.

The phase-out of F50s and F27s in Kenya creates an opportunity for ATR - Avions de Transport Régional to establish a stronger foothold in the Kenyan market. Renegade Air has already introduced ATR42 and ATR72 freighters and the ATR42-500 passenger version, while Jubba Airways plans to refleet its Somalian AOC with ATR turboprops.