Kenya Airways Launches Inaugural Flight to London Gatwick After Missing Out on Heathrow Slots

Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to launch its inaugural flight to London’s Gatwick Airport today (July 2, 2025), marking a strategic expansion of its UK operations amid slot constraints at Heathrow Airport.

The first flight to Gatwick is scheduled to depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 9:45 PM, and will operate four times a week through the busy summer season.

Speaking ahead of the inaugural flight, KQ Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka said the airline had initially sought to increase its frequencies to Heathrow — a historically significant destination for the national carrier — but was denied additional summer slots for 2025.

“London is a very important destination for us. In fact, we had requested for additional slots into Heathrow and they denied us,” Kilavuka said. “So what we decided to do is to go for Gatwick as an alternative.”

Landing slots at Heathrow — one of the world’s busiest international airports — are notoriously limited due to high demand, strict scheduling protocols, and ongoing infrastructure constraints. Airlines from around the world compete for access, particularly during the peak summer travel season.

Slot allocation is regulated by UK aviation authorities and managed in part through historical rights, meaning newer or smaller carriers often face challenges in increasing frequency.

With additional access to Heathrow denied, Kenya Airways turned to Gatwick Airport, London’s second busiest hub, to maintain its growth strategy in the UK market.

He emphasized that the move was not intended to split traffic between London’s two major airports, but rather a necessary adjustment due to limited capacity at Heathrow.

“We wanted to fly into Heathrow ten times like we did the previous year and the year before that. But this year, 2025, they told us there were no slots for summer, so we had to look for an alternative,” he explained.

Kilavuka noted that the new Gatwick route has been well received, with strong bookings indicating full flights throughout the summer. “Gatwick is a very strong route. In fact, all our flights are going to be full for the summer,” he said.

Kenya Airways will maintain its daily flights to Heathrow, while adding the new four-times-a-week service to Gatwick, boosting its overall presence in the UK market.

The UK remains a key market for KQ. London was the airline’s first international destination in 1977, symbolizing Kenya Airways’ entry into global aviation. “It’s a very important flagship route for KQ because of our strong ties with the UK,” Kilavuka said.

The Gatwick launch is expected to improve connectivity for Kenyan travelers heading to southern England and offer additional options for tourists and business passengers flying between Nairobi and London.

ligadwah@businessdayafrica.org