Ethihad Airways to buy stake in Kenya Airways – as Kenyan carrier to join Abu Dhabi International Airport

Press Release

Abu Dhabi Airports Company announced that Kenya Airways, the national carrier of Kenya, and famously known as “the pride of Africa”, will soon offer three flights a week between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Nairobi, Kenya.

The development raises the speculation that Etihad Airways -the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is looking to buy a stake in the Kenyan Carrier and thus increase its footprint in the rapidly growing aviation sector in Africa.

Africa is a key market for Etihad Airways and Kenya Airways could be an attractive partner. At present Kenya Airways does require a considerable amount of capital to meet its expansion plan to 2015 and beyond – Etihad Airways, could provide that capital in some form.

Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer of the Abu Dhabi Airports Company, commented thus: “Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new partnership with Kenya Airways will provide a vital connection between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi, allowing for increased trade, travel and connectivity between two growing economies in two important regions. The new route will also further enable Abu Dhabi International Airport to act as the Middle East’s gateway to Africa, the second most populated continent in the world.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company looks forward to providing world-class service to all of Kenya Airways’ passengers with Abu Dhabi as their final stop or using the Abu Dhabi International Airport as their first step towards another international destination.”