Phoenix Aviation

Phoenix Aviation is a Kenya based operator of private charters and medevac flights across Africa and beyond. It was founded in Nairobi in 1994 by father and son Bill and Steve Parkinson and is still a family business. The company says it is known for doing difficult things in difficult places, with safety and care.

Services

• Private charter: business trips, family safaris, diplomatic flights, remote lodge landings and cross border flights
• Medevac: 24/7 ICU level air ambulance flights with a 60 minute target launch time
• Aircraft maintenance for its own fleet and third party aircraft

Fleet

• Cessna Citation Sovereign (C680)
• Cessna Citation Excel (C560XL)
• Beechcraft King Air 200
• Cessna 208 Caravan

The company says multiple aircraft in each category give built in backup. A Citation Bravo joined the fleet in 1999 and the Sovereign in 2015.

Medevac record

Since 2008 Phoenix has flown medevac missions for the United Nations and AMISOM in Somalia, more than 4,000 patients over 16 years with no patient lost in flight, according to a quote from the mission's Chief Aviation Officer on its website. It was among the first in the region to fly confirmed Covid-19 patients. Phoenix says it has flown more than 5,000 missions and reaches more than 2,000 destinations.

Approvals

• EURAMI accredited for medevac, since 2021
• EASA Third Country Operator (TCO) approved, since 2018
• Logos on its site include the Air Charter Association, the International Assistance Group and KAAO
• Its own Approved Maintenance Organisation; the company says it is the only EASA and EURAMI certified maintenance provider for the Citation C680 in East Africa

People

Captain Steve Parkinson, co-founder, is Board Chairman. Devan Bhundia heads the maintenance organisation and client services.

Contact

Charter: +254 705 167 171 or +254 20 494 5568
Medevac, 24/7: +254 703 250 250, medevac@phoenixaviation.co.ke
Details from phoenixaviation.co.ke, October 2026.