Kenya Airways records marginal passenger growth

Kenya Airways recorded a flat growth in passenger numbers in the period ended June, with the national carrier making changes to several routes amid sale of planes to boost its cash position.

The company said it flew 894,240 passengers during the period, representing a growth of 0.6 per cent from the year before as its two Boeing B777 planes dropped off the fleet after their sale to a US airline.

“Despite the reduced capacity the airline increased the seats flown during the period by 1.6 per cent to 1.58 million due to efficient use of aircrafts,” KQ, as the airline is known by its international code, said in a statement.

“During the period the airline revised its network to improve connectivity through its hub Nairobi and more so densify its presence in Africa.”

The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm increased capacity on African routes by 15 per cent in line with its focus on the continent.

“This was achieved through increased frequencies to some African destinations and the upgrading from B737s to B787s and from Embraer E190 to B737s on certain African routes,” the carrier said.

READ: Kenya Airways gets nod to fly to China via Vietnam

Passenger numbers in West Africa increased 28 per cent to 85,079 while in Central Africa and North Africa there was an increase of 20 per cent and two per cent to 44,887 and 48,628 respectively due to higher frequencies and capacity.

It reduced capacity to Middle East and India 28 per cent by replacing the wide body B77s and B878s with B737s which have narrower bodies.

Capacity on Europe also declined 17 per cent with the replacement of the B777s with the more fuel efficient B787s and change of operations on the London route where it sold it landing slot at Heathrow airport.

The airline said it continues to implement its turnaround strategy whose main objectives are returning to profitability and efficiently using capital.