One of Africa's largest carriers, Kenya Airways, mapped out its network plans at a Route Exchange Airline Requirement Briefing during Routes Africa in Swaziland. If you are an African airport or have an interest in the continent, you need to read this. CLICK HERE.
Kenya Airways' focus remains firmly on serving African markets, with a willingness to consider a number of new destinations in the continent, in particular in West Africa and, eventually, North Africa.
This was the message from Martin Gitonga, the airline's strategic planning analyst, and Sammy Muua, schedules analyst, who addressed a full audience of African airport delegates during their Route Exchange Airline Requirement Briefing in Swaziland on June 1.
Destinations & Achievements
Kenya Airways serves 49 destinations, including a new operation to Muscat, which began on May 5, . This month, it will serve Juba, the southern Sudanese capital - another of many milestones the carrier has reached in recent years.
These include its privatisation in 1996, receiving its first B777 in 2004, launching Guangzhou in 2005 and becoming an associate member of SkyTeam in 2007. Today its fleet is made up entirely of jet aircraft.
African Network
With its strong SkyTeam partner KLM, Kenya Airways is able to offer its customers a huge variety of destinations in Europe, North America and beyond, so its strategic focus remains on building a strong African network.
It is currently looking for codeshare and partnership opportunities with other African airlines.
Over 40% of KQ's African network is linked by direct services, but the airline is interested in possibly linking two African destinations with a view to building each destination into non-stop services in time.
It is also interested in pursuing fifth freedom rights for certain routes, which it has found far easier to achieve in the West Africa region rather than Southern Africa, where tough restrictions remain.
Profitability & Viability
KQ aims to achieve profitability within three to six months of launching a new route, except in the case of strategically important routes where there is slightly more flexibility.
What KQ wants to hear from airports:
- The economic growth and market demand in your particular market.
- The consistency of market growth and demand.
- Traffic rights information - there cannot be limitations on KQ's growth capacity.
- Connectivity within the network. KQ always aims to optimise connections to crucial markets. It cited the example of Johannesburg, where it has optimised its schedules for better onward connections to Dubai and Mumbai.
- Safety and security - as an associate SkyTeam member and an IOSA airline, KQ must meet stringent operational requirements. In Africa these can "make or break a new route".
- Operational factors including slots, airport operational hours, ground handling facilities and safety and security.
- Fuel availability - this was described as a "big challenge" in Africa. Lack of a reliable fuel has sometimes seen the airline being forced to look for alternative destinations.
- Cargo market - this remains crucial.
- The bottom line: KQ is interested in African markets that will be profitable and viable.
Listen to an interview with Keith Green at SAA, Click Here
Kenya Airways' strategic planning analyst, Martin Gitonga, caught up with Routes News just before the Route Exchange Airline Requirement Briefing. Click Here.
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