africanflyer

Kenya Airways has been given a reprieve by the Ugandan CAA and allowed to operate a fourth flight between Nairobi and Entebbe during the summer months until October, by which time a final decision may be reached. The airline relinquished its fourth frequency following the entry in the market by East African Airlines, which was to take it up as part of the maximum allotted frequencies between the two cities, as agreed upon by the governments of Kenya and Uganda.

Kenya Airways has announced the suspension of flights to Asmara, Eritrea from Nairobi, which were to start effective May 2nd. The airline cited currency restrictions imposed on it by the Eritrean government as the reason for the suspension. Kenya Airways had intended to serve Asmara twice per week via Djibouti.

Skyteam alliance member Korean Air and Skyteam associate airline Kenya Airways are set to begin codesharing on the Seoul - Bangkok - Nairobi route effective April 20. Korean will place its code on Kenya Airways’ BKK-NBO flights, while Kenya Airways will place its code on BKK-SEL.

Kenya Airways is reportedly interested in acquiring a stake in Air Tanzania through its partner Precision Air, which is the second largest airline in Tanzania operating domestic and international flights. Precison Air has reportedly written to the Tanzanian government proposing a merger with TC, which is currently ending a 4-year partnership with South African Airways.

Kenya Airways will increase frequency between Nairobi and Guangzhou, China from the current 3x to 4x per week effective the first week of September. The new flight will follow the existing routing (via Dubai) and schedule, and will be operated on Tuesdays.

Kenya Airways has placed an order for 6 B787-800s and four options, which will be used to replace its existing fleet of B763s. Delivery will begin in 2010 with two aircraft, followed by four in 2011. This order makes Kenya Airways the third African airline to order the type, following Ethiopian Airlines and Royal Air Maroc.

Kenya Airways has launched a new website complete with a new online booking system provided by Amadeus. The site can be accessed through http://www.kenya-airways.com

Kenya Airways will increase its frequencies between Nairobi and Lagos, Nigeria to 5x per week effective the last week of March 2006. The new flight, operated on Saturdays, will follow the existing schedule of flights operated on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Kenya Airways will start serving Asmara, Eritrea effective the end of April 2006. The flights, operated 2x per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays via Djibouti using its B733s, increase services between Nairobi and Djibouti from the current 2x per week (via Addis Ababa) to 4x per week. The airline will also be carrying passengers between Djibouti and Asmara.

KQ404 NBO - JIB: 740 - 1030
KQ404 JIB - ASM: 1110 - 1230
KQ405 ASM - JIB: 1325 - 1445
KQ405 JIB - NBO: 1850 - 1735

Kenya Airways is to start services between Nairobi and Paris Charles de Gaulle effective the last week of June 2006. Flights will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with a B763.

KQ112 NBO - CDG: 2315 - 630
KQ113 CDG - NBO: 1025 - 1940

Kenya Airways placed an order for a B772 today, adding to its existing fleet of three similar aircraft, and placed an option for a fifth. Additionally, the airline leased a B763 that will join its fleet as of 2006.

Kenya Airways is adding a third flight to Bamako, Mali, continuing on to Dakar, Senegal effective October 30. All three fligths will maintain the existing schedule.

Kenya Airways signed an agreement with Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) for the lease of three B738s to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2008. Each aircraft will be leased for eight years.

Kenya Airways and Linhas Aereas do Mozambique (LAM) have signed a codeshare agreement for the upcoming flights between Nairobi, Kenya and Maputo, Mozambique. The flights, which will be inaugurated on October 2 and operated by Kenya Airways, will be operated via Harare, Zimbabwe twice per week.

Kenya Airways is to start a weekly one direction Saturday service between Mombasa and London Heathrow. This flight will be operated with a B772.

KQ104 MBA - LHR: 945 - 1610

Kenya Airways, which had intentions to serve Shanghai in China from Nairobi, has dropped that city in favour of Guangzhou. Flights will be operated three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, via Dubai with a B763. The first flight will be operated on October 31.

KQ232 NBO - CAN: 1115 - 630
KQ233 CAN- NBO: 1910 - 455

Kenya Airways completed its 5-year fleet upgrade today with the delivery of its third and final B772 on order. KQ operates the B772s on flights to London, Amsterdam, Lilongwe, Lusaka and Lagos.

The airline also operates a fleet of 6 B763s, 3 B732s, 4 B73Gs, 4 B733s and 2 Saab 340s.

Skyteam, the airline alliance which comprises Delta Airlines, Air France, KLM, Continental and Alitalia, to name a few, announced the candidacy of Kenya Airways to join the alliance’s “Associate Program” as of this summer. The Associate Program brings to KQ:

Frequent Flyer Reciprocity: Associate Airlines will adopt the frequent flyer program of one of the Member airlines. This step will help expedite the integration process enabling passengers to get frequent flyer benefits sooner.

Lounge Access: Associate Airlines will establish bilateral agreements for passenger lounge access. By doing this, all SkyTeam Elite Plus Members, as well as international first or business class passengers holding a SkyTeam Member or SkyTeam Associate Airlines international ticket will have complimentary access to SkyTeam lounges on day of travel.

Codeshare Agreements: Associate Airlines will enter agreements for codesharing with certain SkyTeam Members. This will allow Member Airlines to serve additional destinations.

Kenya Airways received it’s second B772, painted in the airline’s new colorscheme. This aircraft and the airline’s first 777 will be used on flights to London, Amsterdam Lilongwe and Lusaka.

The airline is also adding the following cities to its network this year:

Istanbul Effective Jun 10, 2x per week, B73G
Bamako, Mali: Effective Jul 1, 2x per week, B73G
Dakar, Senegal: Effective Jul 1, 2x per week, B73G
Maputo, Mozambique: Effective Aug 4, 2x per week, B737
Shanghai, China: Effective Aug 2, 3x per week, B763
Freetown, Sierra Leone: Effective Nov 2, 2x per week, B73G