Business
Kenya Airways eyes massive expansion in next 5 years
The balance of the required funds would be generated from internal resources, he said, giving the airline a chance to double its passenger fleet to 68 planes and add eight freighters. It operates a sole, leased freighter.
Extra aircraft would enable the carrier to start six new routes to China, six new routes to India, a service to Madrid as well as increase frequencies on its numerous African routes.
“We are starting Delhi in the next two months. In fact if I had aircraft I would put a double daily to Mumbai,” he said.
Airport Expansion A Risk
Kenya Airways’ strategy hinges on connecting Africa with the outside world through its Nairobi hub. It has opened a string of routes across Africa to tap a vast continent that lacks good road and rail networks.
Naikuni said the airline would start operating daily frequencies across the continent.
The airline is expecting 10 E-190 Embraer jets due for delivery between July next year through to 2013. It also signed a deal for the purchase of 787-8 Dreamliner planes with Boeing in April last year.
