KQ Brings Back Larger Jets to Boost Summer Revenue

Kenya Airways has returned larger aircraft to service for the summer season, aiming to capture peak holiday demand on its long-haul routes to the United States and Europe, key markets for Kenya’s tourism sector.

The move comes after the carrier, known as KQ, had sidelined some of its wide-body jets in recent months as it grappled with maintenance delays and cost pressures.

Summer is a critical period for global airlines, with families and tourists travelling in large numbers, providing carriers with an opportunity to maximise revenue through higher load factors and seasonal fares.

“Deploying our larger aircraft during this high-demand window allows us to serve more passengers while improving our yields on long-haul routes,” Kenya Airways top official said.

The airline’s long-range operations, particularly flights to destinations such as New York and key European cities, are heavily reliant on the summer peak, with Kenya’s safari and coastal offerings attracting visitors from its traditional tourism source markets.

Kenya’s tourism earnings rose 33 percent in 2024 to $2.2 billion, driven largely by arrivals from the US, UK, Germany and France, according to the tourism ministry, underscoring the importance of the summer window for foreign exchange inflows and the national carrier’s revenue streams.

Kenya Airways, which is majority owned by the government, has been working on a turnaround plan that includes improving fleet reliability and boosting operational efficiency as it eyes a return to profitability.

The redeployment of wide-body aircraft is expected to support the carrier’s financial performance during the third quarter, which covers the busy July-August travel season.

Kenya Airways has been seeking to deepen its North American and European footprint to tap into long-haul demand while maintaining regional dominance in East Africa.

The airline’s summer capacity ramp-up signals its intent to defend its market share against competitors while capitalising on Kenya’s growing tourism arrivals.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org