Latest news with #AllanKilavuka
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Grounded planes hit East African airlines amid global parts shortage
Airlines in East Africa face a turbulent year as a shortage of planes and spare parts continues to delay the return of grounded aircraft, reducing fleet capacity and cutting into revenue from key routes. Three of the four flag carriers in the region have at least one major aircraft grounded due to engine overhauls or repairs, with a growing backlog at maintenance providers and a scarcity of parts extending downtimes. The shortage in parts has been driven by a lack of skilled labour and raw materials, amid a steep rise in air travel demand following the post-pandemic recovery, according to a recent analysis by McKinsey. Additionally, turbulence in supply chains – caused by conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East – has further strained the delivery of parts. Equipment makers also report difficulties in accessing key components such as semi-conductors, finished castings and forgings. As a result, prices have gone up, and African airlines say they are often outbid by richer carriers in developed countries for new aircraft and parts, forcing them to endure longer wait periods. Kenya Airways (KQ) has warned that the prolonged grounding of two of its largest planes will hit its revenues.'We have lost 20 per cent of our capacity, and that is going to affect our results this year because of the strain on our network,' KQ chief executive Allan Kilavuka said in Nairobi last week. The grounded planes include two 250-seater Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, which – along with the recently leased Airbus A330-200 – are the largest in KQ's fleet and serve long-haul routes like London, New York, Johannesburg and Lagos. This disruption comes after KQ posted its best performance in more than a decade last year, making a $42 million profit after nine straight years of losses. A report by the Controller and Auditor-General linked the grounding to a 62 per cent increase in the carrier's net loss for the year ended June 2024, signalling operational strains as the firm operates with only 12 active aircraft. RwandAir is also grappling with capacity constraints, with three of its 10 aircraft – including a 189-seater Boeing 737-84Y, a 9W 0-seater Bombardier CRJ-900 and a 90-seater DHC Dash 8-Q402 – grounded. The disruption has led to flight cancellations and schedule changes.'Technical issues affecting our aircraft have led to tactical flight cancellations and the rescheduling of RwandAir services,' the airline said on its website. RwandaAir CEO Yvonne Makolo did not on respond to queries on the revenue impact of the aircraft grounding. The situation is expected to persist. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says the aircraft and parts shortage could last well into 2025, straining operations and profits for many carriers.'Manufacturers are letting their customers down. Every airline is frustrated as these problems have persisted that long,' said IATA Director-General Willie Walsh at the group's annual meeting in New Delhi, India.'Indications that it could take until the end of the decade to fix them are off-the-chart unacceptable!'IATA says more than 1,100 aircraft under 10 years old – 3.8 per cent of the global fleet – are grounded, compared to just 1.3 per cent between 2015 and 2018. Meanwhile, more than 17,000 new plane orders are backlogged, and firms are waiting an average of 14 years for delivery. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Tourism Breaking News
04-07-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways ink strategic codeshare partnership
Post Views: 41 Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), confirming the intention to enter a strategic partnership which will include a comprehensive codeshare agreement and increased flights between the East African state and Qatar Airways' award-winning Doha hub, Hamad International Airport. The partnership will see Qatar Airways introducing a third daily frequency between Doha and Nairobi in codeshare with Kenya Airways, with flights due to be available for booking over the coming days. The new offering will be complemented by the launch of Kenya Airways operated, and Qatar Airways marketed, flights between Mombasa and Doha during the coming winter season. The two airlines will also codeshare on both networks to offer seamless connections and greater choice for travellers from around the world. Additionally, both Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways will look to develop collaboration in other parts of the business, including cargo, airport and ground services, product development, loyalty programmes, procurement as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: 'This partnership is yet another demonstration of our deepening ties with the African region. Today's agreement – which comes as we celebrate 20 years of flying to Kenya – is coupled with our recognisable record of partnerships across the continent, most recently through our investment in Airlink. Our growing collaboration with our African counterparts ensures that Qatar Airways continues to contribute to the continent's rapidly evolving aviation and economic ecosystem.' Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Allan Kilavuka, said: 'This partnership perfectly aligns with our airline's robust turnaround strategy, which saw Kenya Airways' return to profit for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year. The collaboration will also help expedite Kenya Airways' efforts to boost tourism and air cargo activities, turning these and others into pivotal economic growth propellers for Kenya and the East Africa region.' The partnership highlights two leading airlines collaborating to bring excellence to their global community of travellers. Kenya Airways, for the fourth consecutive year, has been recognised as Africa's Leading Airline and Business Class by the World Travel Awards 2025. Qatar Airways – the only five-star global airline based in the Middle East and the reigning World's Best Airline as voted by Skytrax in 2025 – offers over 170 weekly flights to 30 cities across Africa. Over the past year, Qatar Airways has also optimised its schedule in most African destinations to improve connectivity to key destinations, including Brussels, Guangzhou, London, New York, and Washington through its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport.
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kenya Airways eyes more Doha flights in deal with Qatar Airways
National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has inked a code-sharing pact with Qatar Airways, allowing the latter to introduce a third daily frequency between Doha and Nairobi while KQ will launch Qatar Airways-marketed flights between Mombasa and Doha during the coming winter season. The agreement makes Qatar Airways the 15th codeshare partner of the local carrier in a growing list that has seen KQ widen its global route network. Code-sharing refers to a deal between two or more airlines to sell seats for the same flight, meaning passengers enjoy benefits such as purchase of a single ticket, a single check-in, and seamless connections at transit points. In the partnership signed in Doha on Tuesday, the two firms said the agreed flights will be available for booking in coming days. The pair will also extensively codeshare on both networks to offer connections from around the world.'This partnership perfectly aligns with our airline's robust turnaround strategy, which saw Kenya Airways' return to profit for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year,' said KQ managing director Allan Kilavuka in a statement.'The collaboration will also help expedite Kenya Airways' efforts to boost tourism and air cargo activities, turning these and others into pivotal economic growth propellers for Kenya and the East Africa region.'The two companies said they will also look to develop collaboration in other parts of the business. Kenya Airways has been expanding its network and reach through various code-sharing agreements with various global and local airlines, a move that it bets on to help in maintaining its newly-found profitability path. In total, KQ now has 15 codeshare partners, among them British Airways, Air Egypt, Air Austral, Safarilink and ITA Airways. Others are Oman Air, Saudia, Precision Air, Air France, KLM and Jambojet. KQ posted a net profit of Ksh5.4 billion ($42 million) for 2024, marking a turnaround from a Ksh22.6 billion ($175 million) loss in 2023, and booking its first full-year profit in 12 years. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Qatar Tribune
01-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QA and Kenya Airways ink strategic partnership deal
Tribune News Network DOHA Qatar Airways (QA) and Kenya Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), confirming the intention to enter a strategic partnership which will include a comprehensive codeshare agreement and increased flights between the East African state and QA's award-winning Doha hub, Hamad International Airport. The MoU signing took place on Monday in Doha between Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer and Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Allan Kilavuka. The partnership will see Qatar Airways introducing a third daily frequency between Doha and Nairobi in codeshare with Kenya Airways, with flights due to be available for booking over the coming days. The new offering will be complemented by the launch of Kenya Airways operated, and Qatar Airways marketed, flights between Mombasa and Doha during the coming winter season. The two airlines will also codeshare on both networks to offer seamless connections and greater choice for travellers from around the world. Additionally, both Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways will look to develop collaboration in other parts of the business, including cargo, airport and ground services, product development, loyalty programmes, procurement as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul. Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said: 'This partnership is yet another demonstration of our deepening ties with the African region. Today's agreement – which comes as we celebrate 20 years of flying to Kenya – is coupled with our recognisable record of partnerships across the continent, most recently through our investment in Airlink. Our growing collaboration with our African counterparts ensures that Qatar Airways continues to contribute to the continent's rapidly evolving aviation and economic ecosystem.' Allan Kilavuka, said: 'This partnership perfectly aligns with our airline's robust turnaround strategy, which saw Kenya Airways' return to profit for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year. The collaboration will also help expedite Kenya Airways' efforts to boost tourism and air cargo activities, turning these and others into pivotal economic growth propellers for Kenya and the East Africa region.' The partnership highlights two leading airlines collaborating to bring excellence to their global community of travellers. Kenya Airways, for the fourth consecutive year, has been recognised as Africa's Leading Airline and Business Class by the World Travel Awards 2025. Qatar Airways – the only five-star global airline based in the Middle East and the reigning World's Best Airline as voted by Skytrax in 2025 – offers over 170 weekly flights to 30 cities across Africa. Over the past year, Qatar Airways has also optimised its schedule in most African destinations to improve connectivity to key destinations, including Brussels, Guangzhou, London, New York, and Washington through its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport.
Qatar Tribune
01-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Airways, Kenya Airways seal strategic partnership
DOHA: Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), confirming the intention to enter a strategic partnership which will include a comprehensive codeshare agreement and increased flights between the East African state and Qatar Airways' award-winning Doha hub, Hamad International Airport. The MoU was signed today by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Eng Badr Mohammed Al Meer and Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka. The partnership will see Qatar Airways introducing a third daily frequency between Doha and Nairobi in codeshare with Kenya Airways, with flights due to be available for booking over the coming days. The new offering will be complemented by the launch of Kenya Airways operated, and Qatar Airways marketed, flights between Mombasa and Doha during the coming winter season. The two airlines will also codeshare on both networks to offer seamless connections and greater choice for travellers from around the world. Additionally, both Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways will look to develop collaboration in other parts of the business, including cargo, airport and ground services, product development, loyalty programmes, procurement as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul. Al Meer said: 'This partnership is yet another demonstration of our deepening ties with the African region. Today's agreement – which comes as we celebrate 20 years of flying to Kenya – is coupled with our recognisable record of partnerships across the continent, most recently through our investment in Airlink. Our growing collaboration with our African counterparts ensures that Qatar Airways continues to contribute to the continent's rapidly evolving aviation and economic ecosystem.' Kilavuka said: 'This partnership perfectly aligns with our airline's robust turnaround strategy, which saw Kenya Airways' return to profit for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year. The collaboration will also help expedite Kenya Airways' efforts to boost tourism and air cargo activities, turning these and others into pivotal economic growth propellers for Kenya and the East Africa region.' The partnership highlights two leading airlines collaborating to bring excellence to their global community of travellers. Kenya Airways, for the fourth consecutive year, has been recognised as Africa's Leading Airline and Business Class by the World Travel Awards 2025. Qatar Airways – the only five-star global airline based in the Middle East and the reigning World's Best Airline as voted by Skytrax in 2025 – offers over 170 weekly flights to 30 cities across Africa. Over the past year, Qatar Airways has also optimised its schedule in most African destinations to improve connectivity to key destinations, including Brussels, Guangzhou, London, New York, and Washington through its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport.
