Browsing: Kenya Airways

• Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have agreed to further expand existing codeshare flights, adding 19 new destinations in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
• The Gulf carrier customers have secured streamlined access to Lilongwe, Livingstone, Juba, Nampula, Ndola, and Victoria Falls via KQ’s Nairobi hub.
• KQ customers will connect seamlessly to Bahrain, Colombo, Islamabad, Karachi, Malé, Singapore, and Tokyo Narita via Hamad International Airport in Doha.
• New codeshare tickets will be made available starting 21st October for flights from 26th October.

A new codeshare partnership agreement between Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways (KQ) is poised to improve air travel across Africa with the Gulf carrier securing access to Lilongwe, Livingstone, Juba, Nampula, Ndola, and Victoria Falls via Nairobi.

In a market update made on Wednesday, Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have agreed to further expand existing codeshare flights, adding 19 new destinations across both airlines.

While Qatar Airways customers will …

• Precision Air, a Tanzanian airline, faces severe financial crisis, including a $26 million UK lawsuit over unpaid aircraft leases, government refusal for a bailout, and investor Kenya Airways reconsidering its stake.
• The airline is technically insolvent, with liabilities exceeding assets, massive losses, and struggles to repay debts, mirroring broader challenges in Africa’s aviation sector.
• Despite CEO optimism about recovery strategies, including cost-cutting and fleet upgrades, the airline’s future remains uncertain amid industry-wide turbulence and skeptical investors.

After years of reported financial problems, Tanzania’s Precision Air is now facing legal action in the UK with reports indicating that the Tanzanian government has rejected a bailout plea, and its key investor, Kenya Airways, is reconsidering its stake.

According to Global Trade Review, Export Development Canada (EDC)—a Canadian export credit agency—is suing Precision Air in the UK High Court over an unsettled debt of nearly $26 million from an aircraft financing agreement. The …

• Kenya Airways losses for FY2023 have majorly stemmed from FX fluctuations.
• Despite the heightened operating costs, Kenya Airways achieved an operating profit of $79.4 million.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts full recovery of the aviation industry from the Covid-19 crisis in 2024.

Kenya Airways net losses for the trading period ending December 2023 have dropped to $171.6 million (KES22.7 billion) majorly attributed to the forex exchange losses suffered during the review period.

The latest result is a 41 percent reduction from the $289.6million (KES38.3 billion) reported in 2022 in what the airline attributes to continuing efforts aimed at navigating KQ’s back onto the path to profitability.

These losses stemming from fluctuations in currency exchange rates (FX Losses), impacted the airline’s financial position, posting the greatest drawback to its financials with $181.4 million loss.

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Allan Kilavuka said that in the review period the airline increased flight …

• Kenya Airways Cargo introduced a pair of Boeing 737-800 converted freighters two months ago to expand its cargo capacity.
• Kenya Airways will also resume direct passenger flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu starting 15th February 2024.
• KQ already operates the passenger version of the 737-800.

Kenya Airways Cargo (KQ Cargo) has expanded its route network to include direct cargo flights between Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Mogadishu in Somalia.

The new route will be served weekly, effective 09th February 2024, and is expected to grow to two (2) weekly frequencies in April 2024. KQ Cargo has partnered with GSA Global Cargo LLC, a global cargo sales and service agent based out of UAE, as the cargo logistics partner to service the route.

KQ Cargo recently increased its freight capacities with the entry into service of a B737-800F, which offers an extended range, connecting vital cargo hubs and opening …

• The open Skies Policy in civil aviation aims to ease international airlines’ access to national airports to increase the flow of tourists and develop their potential as regional air hubs.
• Kenya is seen to warm up to more international carriers, with the latest being flyDubai, which is now flying directly to the Moi International Airport, Mombasa, after launching last week.
• Apart from attracting foreign carriers mainly from Europe and the Middle East, airlines from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and other EAC states will operate across borders without restrictions.

The Open Skies Policy in Kenya

Kenya is slowly heeding calls by the private sector to open its skies to more international airlines seeking to fly directly to the country’s Coast, a leading beach destination preferred mainly by Europeans.

This comes as the government also banks on the recently unveiled “visa-free” to open the country to more visitors, aiming to grow the …

• Trade tensions within the EAC bloc have intensified lately, with neighboring countries taking adverse actions against each other.
• In the latest development, Tanzania is blocking passenger flights from Kenya Airways to Dar es Salaam, while Burundi has officially closed its borders with Rwanda.
• Elsewhere, Kenya has been pursuing trade deals with the European Union and the United States, leaving regional economies to play catch-up

Heightened trade and political tensions between the East African member states are threatening to erode the gains of a free market and the dividends of a united bloc for a region expected to achieve the fastest growth across Africa this year.

As East Africa increasingly evolves into a focal point for economic growth and development, underlying trade tensions are testing the region’s unity to the fullest. As nations strive to harness the benefits of globalization, differing economic policies and priorities can often strains trade relations defeating …

• Initiative with the US company is expected to cost around $15 million in initial investments.
• The joint venture will primarily focus on producing aircraft thermo-acoustic insulation blankets, electrical wire harnesses, and other parts.
• As of early June, Ethiopian Airlines’ order book comprises 29 aircraft, including 17 Boeing 737 MAXs, five Boeing 777Fs, one Boeing 787-9, and six Airbus A350-1000s.

Africa’s largest carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, is set to make aviation history as it enters a groundbreaking joint venture with Boeing to manufacture aircraft parts.

The collaboration, which is expected to cost around $15 million in initial investments, aims to bolster Ethiopia’s aerospace industry.

The Ethiopian Investment Commission announced the deal on August 18, revealing that the state-owned airline has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing and the local state Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC).

Ethiopia Airlines, Boeing joint venture

This strategic partnership will establish a cutting-edge aerospace factory at …

• The Middle-East market is showing great potential as the period from January to March 2023 witnessed a 20 percent jump in arrivals. 
• Building on this positive trajectory, Kenya aims to expand the Middle-East market by 30 percent by June 2024. 
• Authorities are leveraging partnership with Kenya Airways, travel agents, and private sector players.

Tourist numbers from the Middle East are registering an impressive pattern in Kenya, pointing to a key emerging source of holidaymakers, a trajectory that could drive arrival numbers, shoring up the country’s forex earnings.

To drive international arrival numbers, the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is strategically positioning itself. The latest developments indicate KTB is harnessing recently-launched Mombasa and Dubai direct flights to woo tourists. With wide offerings for Mombasa-bound holidaymakers, Kenya could tap Middle-East market and boost inbound tourism.

Rising tourist numbers from the Middle East

The Middle East market is showing an immense potential on boosting …