748 Air Services

748 Air Services, also known as Seven Four Eight Air Services, is a Kenyan charter airline headquartered at Wilson Airport in Nairobi. Its business combines passenger and cargo aviation, with a historical emphasis on charter operations supporting relief agencies, humanitarian organizations and other specialist customers in areas where regular commercial air services are limited. The airline's operating profile has included domestic Kenyan flying as well as missions across East Africa, Central Africa, Somalia and the territory now known as South Sudan. The company was established in 1995 by Ahmed Rashid Jibril, who served as its first managing director. Its name was derived from the Hawker Siddeley 748 that formed its initial aircraft. That aircraft was used for charter work serving relief and humanitarian organizations operating in remote parts of Sudan, Somalia and other parts of East and Central Africa. This early use of a turboprop aircraft suited to comparatively demanding regional conditions helped define the airline's role as a specialist operator rather than a conventional scheduled passenger carrier. Over time, 748 Air Services expanded its aviation capability and operated a mixed fleet that included aircraft from the Hawker Siddeley and British Aerospace 748 families, the Hawker Siddeley HS.780 Andover and Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. The available reference material states that the airline operated twelve aircraft as of 2019, although a complete historical fleet list and a fully documented current fleet composition are not established here. The airline's aircraft have been used for both passenger and freight work, including humanitarian cargo missions. The company's documented operations illustrate the logistical importance of charter aviation in conflict-affected or remote regions. In February 2014, one of its aircraft was conducting a humanitarian aid cargo flight for the International Organization for Migration from Juba to Bentiu in South Sudan when it ran off the runway after landing and struck parked vehicles. Earlier incidents occurred at Rumbek and Tonj, then in Sudan and now in South Sudan. These events form part of the airline's public operational history, but the available material does not establish that they involved deliberate misconduct or a broader corporate scandal. 748 Air Services remains identifiable as an active Kenyan aviation brand focused on charter passenger and cargo transport. Publicly available information in the supplied references does not reliably establish its current ownership, detailed route schedule, current executives, website, financial performance or complete fleet. Accordingly, those fields are left unreported rather than inferred.

748 Air Services was founded in Kenya in 1995 by Ahmed Rashid Jibril, its first managing director. The company took its name from its first aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley 748. Rather than beginning as a conventional scheduled airline, it developed around charter work, using the aircraft to support relief and humanitarian organizations operating in remote areas of Sudan, Somalia, East Africa and Central Africa. This operating environment shaped the airline's identity. Charter aviation can provide transport capacity to locations that lack dependable scheduled links, especially during humanitarian emergencies or periods of conflict. 748 Air Services consequently developed a business covering both passengers and cargo, rather than limiting itself to one market. Its aircraft were used for specialist regional transport and for missions connected with aid and relief logistics. The airline subsequently operated aircraft from several turboprop families. Its historical fleet included the British Aerospace 748, the Hawker Siddeley HS.780 Andover and at least one Bombardier Dash 8-100, in addition to the original Hawker Siddeley 748. The supplied reference material records twelve aircraft in operation as of 2019. It also identifies the company as an active charter operator based at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, although it does not provide a complete verified chronology of fleet additions, withdrawals, routes or management succession. Several accidents and incidents are part of the company's documented history. In March 2003, an Andover registered 3C-KKB was damaged beyond repair at Rumbek after an engine failure caused a crash landing. In December 2009, aircraft 5Y-YKM suffered a runway excursion at Tonj; one occupant died after the aircraft stopped and a person on the ground received minor injuries. On 17 February 2014, aircraft 5Y-HAJ was operating a domestic humanitarian aid cargo flight for the International Organization for Migration from Juba to Bentiu during the South Sudanese conflict. After landing at Bentiu, it left the runway, crossed a ditch and struck two parked vehicles. One crew member was killed and three others were injured, while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The available sources do not provide enough information to document the airline's current ownership, financial position, detailed route network, current management team or complete August 2025 fleet in a sufficiently reliable manner. Its established historical profile is that of a Kenyan charter carrier with passenger and cargo capabilities and longstanding involvement in regional and humanitarian aviation.

1. 2019Fleet reported at twelve aircraft

   The airline was reported as operating twelve aircraft.

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2. 2014Bentiu humanitarian cargo-flight accident

   An aircraft flying humanitarian cargo for the International Organization for Migration ran off the runway at Bentiu and struck parked vehicles, killing one crew member and injuring three.

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3. 2009Runway excursion at Tonj

   A British Aerospace 748 operated by the airline left the runway at Tonj Airport, resulting in one occupant's death and other minor injuries.

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4. 2003Andover crash landing at Rumbek

   An aircraft operated by 748 Air Services was damaged beyond repair after an engine failure during operations at Rumbek Airport.

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5. 1995748 Air Services established

   Ahmed Rashid Jibril founded the Kenyan airline and became its first managing director.

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A Kenyan specialist charter airline serving passenger, cargo and humanitarian aviation requirements in East and Central Africa, including remote and difficult-to-serve locations.

• Passenger charter servicesCharter airline transportation1995

  748 Air Services provides charter passenger transportation rather than being documented here primarily as a scheduled network carrier. Its passenger operations have served domestic and regional requirements in Kenya and neighboring parts of East and Central Africa. The available sources do not establish a complete route list, timetable or seat capacity.

• Cargo charter servicesAir cargo transportation1995

  Cargo aviation is a core part of the airline's operating profile. The company has carried freight through charter operations and has supported relief and humanitarian organizations in remote or conflict-affected regions. Its documented work includes humanitarian cargo flights, although the available material does not specify a complete list of cargo categories, customers or current network coverage.

• Humanitarian and relief aviationSpecialist aviation services1995

  From its early operations, 748 Air Services has been associated with charter aviation for relief and humanitarian organizations. This service model involves transporting people and supplies to remote locations where regular commercial aviation may be unavailable or unsuitable. The company was documented conducting an International Organization for Migration humanitarian cargo flight in South Sudan in 2014.

• 2014Humanitarian cargo aircraft accident at Bentiu

  During a humanitarian cargo flight for the International Organization for Migration from Juba to Bentiu, a 748 Air Services British Aerospace 748-371 Series 2B veered off the runway after landing and struck two parked vehicles. One crew member died and three others were injured.

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• 2009Runway excursion involving 748 Air Services aircraft at Tonj

  A British Aerospace 748-398 Series 2B operated by 748 Air Services, registered 5Y-YKM, suffered a runway excursion at Tonj Airport. One occupant died after the aircraft came to a halt, and a person on the ground sustained minor injuries after fainting.

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• 2003748 Air Services aircraft destroyed in Rumbek crash landing

  A 748 Air Services Hawker Siddeley Andover, registered 3C-KKB, was damaged beyond repair after an engine failure led to a crash landing at Rumbek Airport in what was then Sudan and is now South Sudan.

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1. 748 Air Services