Eldoret, Mogadishu & Maputo – More Routes, More Connections For Kenya Airways Guests

KQ JFK

Kenya Airways has reopened 3 routes this year in a bid to offer customers destinations options.

KQ resumed operations to Mogadishu in February, Eldoret in March and Maputo in June. The three routes are expected to offer KQ guests direct flights to the three destinations, providing travelers with more options and convenience.

Reopening of these routes furthers KQs commitments to connect Africa to the world and the world to Africa. The schedules are conveniently timed for the business traveler as well as the leisure traveler. This means guests travelling to and from these three routes can also travel to the rest of the KQ network via Nairobi.

Guests traveling on this route can expect:

1. Professional & delightful onboard services- The Kenya Airways friendly crew will be at hand to receive guests and ensure a delightful experience while onboard.

2. Ample baggage allowance- Customers’ first bag is free of charge with a provision of up to 23kgs for economy class and 32kgs for business class, with additional space available in the overhead bins for one carry-on bag.

3. Comfortable travel – Kenya Airways will operate the Embraer E190 on this route providing customers with a spacious and comfortable travel experience.

Please see the schedules for booking customers:

ELDORET: As low as ksh. 6,900 one way

MOGADISHU: as low as USD 250 one way

MAPUTO: as low as USD 873 for a return trip

Kenya Airways and Safaricom forge tech partnership for aviation innovation

Kenya Airways (KQ) has signed a partnership with Safaricom aimed at driving innovations that will enhance the airline’s operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and elevate the customer experience.

Kenya Airways and Safaricom will focus on enhancing connectivity, in-flight Wi-Fi, Infrastructure Inspection, Security Surveillance, loyalty programs, data science, software development, and aviation innovation in areas such as agriculture.

Commenting on the partnership, Fredrick Kitunga, Chief Information and Data Officer at Kenya Airways said: “Kenya Airways collaboration with Safaricom is a testament to the power of co-creation. By harnessing our combined expertise, we are not only addressing today’s challenges but also laying the groundwork for sustainable growth, enhanced connectivity, and transformative innovations that will benefit our customers and communities for years to come.”

The companies will also collaborate in developing and implementing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for warehousing, baggage tracking, aircraft materials and ULD, to cover tracking, location, reconciliation and stock taking.

Representing Safaricom, Cynthia Kropac, Head of Business noted, “This Memorandum of Understanding solidifies our commitment to providing a transformative experience for our customers, connecting people in new and innovative ways. By leveraging our respective strengths—Kenya Airways in providing safe journeys and Safaricom in cutting-edge communications and technology—we ensure that our customers remain seamlessly connected throughout their travels.”

Kenya Airways’ Fahari Innovation Hub is a one‐of‐a‐kind center of aviation innovation excellence in Africa that facilitates creative and collaborative ways of providing much‐needed solutions to business problems. The Hub is a centre for strategic innovation management offering opportunities for cocreation, networking, research, and learning; and is a springboard for new ideas and innovations that help communities and continent face current and future challenges.

Kenya Airways (KQ) is Kenya’s national carrier and a leading African airline. It flies to 45 destinations worldwide, 37 of which are in Africa, connecting over 5 million passengers and over 70,000 Tons of cargo annually through the Hub at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Source:   ATTA  

Enjoy The Convenience Of One Ticket To Jeddah From Kenya Airways Network.

Travelling to and from the Gulf just got easier with Kenya Airways! KQ has partnered with Saudia Airlines (SV) to facilitate seamless travel for guests looking for a convenient option as they explore Jeddah for leisure or business.

With just one ticket, guests can now travel to Jeddah from Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret and Mogadishu with a connection through Dubai. On the other hand, travelers from Jeddah can fly to Nairobi as well as Accra and Entebe via Nairobi. Travelers from other parts of KQ’s Africa network can also enjoy the same seamless connectivity as this partnership provides a gateway into and out of the Gulf region and serves as a critical connection to Africa for the Gulf. This partnership affirms KQs commitment to connecting people, cultures and markets by providing guests with more connectivity options, itinerary flexibilityand affordable rates.

Kenya Airways Returns to Profit With $80 Million Last Year.

Kenya’s national carrier recorded an operating profit of $80 million (Ksh10.53 billion) in 2023, its first since 2017. The airline saw several operational highlights last year, contributing to its improved performance. However, Kenya Airways still recorded a net loss due to the depreciation of the Kenyan Shilling (Ksh), among other factors.

287% growth in operating profit

The airline’s performance marked a significant milestone in its turnaround strategy as it continues to chart a return to financial sustainability. The $80 million profit recorded last year signifies a 287% growth compared to 2022, when it recorded an operating loss of $42.5 million (Ksh5.6 billion).

The airline managed to increase its revenue by 53%, ending the year at $1.3 billion (Ksh178 billion), primarily driven by increased capacity and higher passenger numbers. Speaking at an investor briefing, Kenya Airways Chairman Michael Joseph said,

“These figures highlight the airline’s remarkable performance over the year and provide encouraging signs of continued recovery within the air transportation sector. They also confirm the operational viability of the airline business and demonstrate that the management’s ongoing efforts to restore profitability are yielding positive results.”

Last year, the company saw total operating costs increase by 37% from $92.5 million (Ksh12.2 billion) in 2022 to $126.7 million (Ksh16.7 billion) in 2023 as it boosted operations to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the additional capacity, direct operating costs increased by 48%, while fleet costs were lower by 47.5%.

Nonetheless, the Kenyan national carrier remains in the loss territory after recording a pre-tax loss of Ksh 22.86 billion and a net loss of Ksh 22.69 billion. This is a remarkable 40.6% improvement from the previous year, when it recorded a net loss of Ksh 38.26 billion.

Moving forward with the turnaround strategy

Kenya Airways has been battling financial and operational challenges for several years, prompting the Kenyan government to pump more cash into the airline. Its last full-year operating profit came in 2017, when it recorded a profit of $11.3 million (Ksh1.5 billion). The following years were also very challenging, with the pandemic adding to the carrier’s problems.

However, the carrier saw more positive results in 2023 and achieved a few organizational highlights, including the resumption of some pre-pandemic routes, improved on-time performance, and launching an independent frequent flyer program. Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka added,

“During the year, the company’s main focus remained on improving customer experience, operational excellence, and cash conservation. These efforts resulted in the airline improving its On-Time Performance (OTP) to a high of 76% from an average low of 58% at the beginning of the year, ranking it as Africa’s second most efficient airline.”

“Additionally, the introduction of the Asante rewards loyalty program and the revamp of KQ’s website aimed to better appreciate and reward customer loyalty while improving user-friendliness and functionality.”

The airline also increased its revenue by enhancing scheduled operations, passenger charters, partnerships, and cost containment measures. According to Kilavuka, Kenya Airways is now focused on taking advantage of the gains achieved in its turnaround strategy – Project Kifaru. It will work on completing the capital restructuring plan, which aims to reduce the carrier’s financial leverage and increase liquidity to ensure normalized operations.

Kenya Airways operations over the past year

Kenya Airways started 2023 with a fleet of 32 aircraft. While it has not significantly enhanced its fleet, it introduced an Airbus A330 in December to enhance capacity during the peak season. The widebody aircraft is wet-leased from Hi Fly and has mainly been operating flights from Nairobi (NBO) to Dubai (DXB) and Johannesburg (JNB) since early 2024.

Last December, the airline resumed regular scheduled flights to Bangkok (BKK) after a three-year COVID hiatus. It had earlier increased its Nairobi-London service to a record twice daily, as well as boosting its Nairobi-New York schedule. This year, the carrier plans to add four new destinations, with Eldoret and Maputo already launched, as well as increasing frequencies to a number of destinations, including New York, Accra, Freetown, and Paris.

In June 2023, Kenya Airways launched Asante Rewards, its own loyalty program, which has reportedly seen a great response from customers. It previously rewarded frequent flyers through Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue. Additionally, the SkyTeam carrier is moving forward with its partnership strategy, which was largely restored in 2022. Last year, it signed an interline agreement with Emirates and later expanded its codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines. Within the first quarter of 2024, the Nairobi-based carrier has announced codeshares with Air Europa, Vietnam Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

Source:  Simple Flying.