Kenya Airways Posts a Sh10Bln Pretax loss

National Carrier, Kenya Airways posted a pretax loss of 10.83 billion shillings ($126.8 million) for the 2012/2013 financial year ended March 31.

Speaking to the press on Friday, KQ Managing Director Titus Naikuni attributed the decline to the euro-zone debt crisis, anticipated unrest during Kenya's presidential elections, and a string of grenade attacks in the country.

University of Nairobi's Team ABE Needs Your Vote

Four University of Nairobi engineering students are finalists in the biennial global Airbus Fly Your Ideas competition.

The students who are in their fourth year teamed up a couple of months ago to form A.B.E an acronym for Aero Bamboo Engineering.

The group of Marian Muthui, Alex Njira, Karl Heinz and Tony Kadiegu Mugita pitched their idea of using bamboo to make the interior cabin and flooring of aircraft as an alternative to conventional material.

The bamboo is styled into bamboo Honeycomb lattice which is lighter and stronger compared to wood. The innovation also comes with embedded thermal acoustic foam as a replacement for non-recyclable composite materials used in the manufacture of aircraft cabin items.

Details of Kenya Airways & Safaricom Fly with Bonga Points Deal

The pact will allow customers to trade 28,000 Bonga Points for a one way ticket and 40,000 points for a return ticket on any domestic route. 

National Carrier Kenya Airways has partnered with the leading integrated communications service provider, Safaricom Limited to launch a platform that will allow its customers to pay for tickets using loyalty Bonga points.

The partnership, dubbed “Fly with Bonga Points”, will see customers with 28,000 Bonga points and more on their Safaricom lines buy tickets for local Kenya Airways flights on either   Economy or Business classes.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, the Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr.  Titus Naikuni, and Safaricom’s Chief Executive Officer, Bob Collymore, said the new proposition follows the success registered in the sale of Kenya Airways tickets through Safaricom’s Mpesa services.

Kenya Airways Flights to Abu Dhabi start July 1st

Kenya Airways has announced that it will launch flights to Abu Dhabi, from July 1st, following the recent signing of a partnership agreement with Etihad Airways.

In the agreement signed a few weeks ago between KQs CEO Titus Naikuni and Etihad's CEO James Hogan, the two carriers look forward on a wide range of cooperation measures with Etihad in particular expanding its network into Africa.

Condor Airlines Direct Flights to Serve Mombasa

German holiday airline, Condor Flugdienst GmbH has officially announced that it will launch direct flights from Munich (Germany) and Vienna (Austria) to Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa during the forthcoming winter season 2013/14.

The airline will operate one return flight each week between Germany's second largest airport, Munich and Mombasa from 24th December 2013 and one weekly return flight from Austria's capital of Vienna to Mombasa from 25th December 2013.

KQ Unveils Special Fare to Kenyans in UK

National Carrier Kenya Airways has today announced a special fare to Kenyans in the United Kingdom to travel back to Kenya and vote in the General Election slated for March 4th.

The following special offer is a return economy fare from Terminal 4, London - Heathrow direct to JKIA, Nairobi and including taxes of GBP581.79*. To travel onwards to Mombasa, Malindi, Kisumu and Eldoret, total fare will be GBP634.79* including all taxes.

Emirates Unveils New Year offers to Kenyan Travellers

Emirates Unveils New Year offers to Kenyan Travellers

Press Release

Khalid Bel Jaflah, Emirate's Vice President, East Africa 

Nairobi - 29th December 2012 - Emirates, which flies twice daily from Nairobi to Dubai, is welcoming 2013 aboard by offering very attractive fares for quick-acting customers.

The special fares apply to more than 120 destinations across the Emirates’ network when booked between 26th December 2012 and 10th January 2013 - for travel from 18th January to 10th June 2013.

Embraer to Open Office in Kenya

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has announced its intention to open an office in Nairobi in early 2013, targeting the growing demand of jets and turboprob aircraft in the African market.

The sales and maintenance support centre will be operated with the partnership of Kenya Airways, who received another E190 jet on Thursday in Embraer’s 900th delivery. 

FastJet introduces low-cost airline in East Africa

'Changing the Landscape of Aviation in Africa’

Flying may become cheaper with a yet to be introduced low-cost airline by FastJet, a Pan-African discount airline start-up.

FastJet backed by EasyJet Plc, the world’s second largest budget airline is first planning to start operations in Tanzania before commencing in Kenya where approval to operate is not complete.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport bags Best African Airport Award

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Image Courtesy of airport-technology.com

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) took the coveted Routes Airport Marketing Award – African category at the 18^thWorld Route Airport Marketing awards 2012 held in Abu Dhabi UAE.

This was the fourth time the biggest airport in East and Central Africa has bagged the prestigious award. In second place was Accra Kotoka International Airport while Entebbe International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport, and Mombasa International Airport followed.
The Routes Award winners are picked by the airlines themselves following a voting system per region. In voting, the airlines consider the efforts airports make to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with them and special consideration in areas of customer service, marketing, and business development.

Brussels Airport scooped the Best in Europe as well as the overall Routes Airport Marketing Award. Other winners included Dallas Fort/Worth International Airport from the Americas, Ekaterinburg Koltsovo International Airport from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) category and Singapore Changi for Asia.  

Turkish Airline to fly to Mombasa

Turkish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, the global industry leader in airline alliances, will be commencing a triangular flight from Turkey's Capital Istanbul to Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Mombasa effective 4^th December this year. The new destinations are due to be served five times a week and the aircraft to be used will be a B737-800, offering both business and economy class.

To read the entire article go to https://wolfganghthome.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/turkish-airlines-announces-plans-to-fly-to-mombasa-from-december/

Kenya secures 1.32billion loan from Belgium for Ngong Wind Farm

Ngong Hills Wind Farm

Image courtesy of Globalpost.com

The Government of Kenya has secured a Sh1.32billion loan from the Belgian Government and Belgium’s KBC Bank to finance the installation of Wind turbines at the KenGen’s Ngong Hills power plant.

The loan agreement, which was signed on Wednesday by Finance minister Njeru Githae, includes a state-to-state zero interest credit agreement of 6 million Euros and a concessional credit agreement with KBC Bank of Belgium of 6.36 million Euros.

Qatar Airways to launch its service to Mombasa on 30th

Qatar’s award-winning airline will formally launch its service between Doha (Qatar) – Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) – Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa on August, 30^th 2012. The launch date has been changed from the earlier announced one of August 15^th.

The Doha-based airline will operate daily flights on-board an Airbus A320 aircraft between the destinations as follows:

J        Doha (DOH) 02:35 > 08:05 Dar Es Salaam 09:05 > 10:05 Mombasa (MBA)

J        Doha (DOH) 07:35 > 13:20 Dar Es Salaam 14:20 > 15:20 Mombasa (MBA)

J        Mombasa (MBA) 11:05 > 12:05 Dar Es Salaam 13:05 > 18:45 Doha (DOH)

J        Mombasa (MBA) 16:20 > 17:20 Dar Es Salaam 18:20 > 23:45 Doha (DOH)

The flag carrier of Qatar is also planning to launch a daily service to Zanzibar later in the year, bringing its destinations in East Africa to seven.

Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, operates a modern fleet of 102 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to 109 key destinations across Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, North America and South America. The airline was named Airline of the Year 2012 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. 

Emirates’ free visa offer to Kenyans travelling to Dubai

Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, is organizing a 30-day free Visa for passengers in all classes or any fares, for tickets booked between August 13 and 20 and for travel anytime between September 5 and October 4^th 2012, from Nairobi to Dubai and back.

The Dubai-based airline is extending the visa incentive to its customers in the region, as the costs of visas can be a determining factor in whether people can afford to travel or not. Other countries that are likely to benefit from the promotion include Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Emirates recently announced its plan to introduce a new service to Thailand’s largest island, Phuket. The airline will link Phuket Island, through its Dubai hub, beginning December 10, 2012.  

The daily service is targeted at Kenyan holidaymakers and traders who frequent Thailand’s most popular destination, Bangkok.

Emirates flies to 125 destinations in 74 countries and remains one of the most respected airlines with over 500 international awards for excellence, to match the reputation.

The offer is not applicable to transit passengers.

Brussels Airlines to Fly to Mombasa

Another international airline is targeting the Kenyan tourism destination Mombasa, days after it was reported that Dubai-based Emirates was set to open an office in the town to tap into its increasing leisure demand by European travelers.  

Belgian national carrier Brussels Airlines is seeking to add Mombasa to its expansive African network, which spans to 21 destinations.

Brussels Airlines Country Manager for Kenya, Pierre Declerk has confirmed that the Airline is set to commence a weekly flight from the Belgian capital Brussels to Mombasa this November, then connect back to Brussels via Nairobi’s JKIA.

Brussels Airlines currently flies to four destinations in the East African region Nairobi, Kigali, Entebbe, and Bujumbura. In Nairobi, it uses Airbus A330-300s with a demand of around 30,000 passengers a year.

Emirates Airline to open office in Mombasa

Middle East’s largest airline Emirates is planning to open a sales office in Kenya’s second-largest city of Mombasa to tap into the rapidly growing market from the popular tourism destination.

Emirates which currently doesn’t fly to Mombasa, would greatly benefit passengers who need to fly to Nairobi first in order to enjoy their bi-daily B777 service.

The Dubai-based airline is keeping up with stiff competition posed by other international airlines, Etihad and Qatar Airways, which fly daily to Nairobi and have started daily flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

As at 2010, Emirates was the 6^th largest airline in the world in terms of international passengers carried, as well as the largest in the world in terms of scheduled international passenger-kilometre flown.

Kenya Airways appoints Aferixmbank for fleet expansion

On Monday, KQ the leading Sub-Saharan airline announced it had picked the Africa Export-Import Bank to fund its acquisition of 20 new aircrafts.

The national carrier is planning to spend the $3.6 billion over the next five years to increase its fleet and routes in order to serve regional and international destinations.

Cairo-based Aferixmbank will finance the purchase of 10 Embraer-190s from Brazilian Embraer, 9 Boeing 787-800s (Dreamliners) from Boeing Co., and one Boeing 777-300ER.

Afreximbank is a multilateral financial institution established in 1993, which promotes the development of trade in the Africa region.

Korean Air apologizes for ‘Primitive’ Ad

The offensive promo which appeared on the airline’s website, led to Kenyans venting their fury on social media (Twitter and Facebook).

Here is what the promotion advert that appeared on www.koreanair.com said:
Korean Air will become the first air carrier in Northeast Asia to extend flight services to Nairobi. Fly to Nairobi with Korean Air and enjoy the grand African savanna, the safari tour, and the indigenous people full of primitive energy.

Muthui Kariuki, who is in charge of the Korean Air’s public relations said that the promo had been removed from the website and says the word ‘primitive’ mistake was because of a translation from Korean to English.

However, some thought the blunder was just a simple international marketing gimmick that may have got the required attention.

Korean Air will begin flights between Seoul and Nairobi on Thursday June 21.