Qatar Airways has inked a memorandum of understanding with Kenya’s national airline, Kenya Airways.
Under the agreement, Qatar Airways is set to introduce a third daily service between Doha and Nairobi. This will be through a codeshare flight operated with Kenya Airways. The service will be complemented by the launch of Kenya Airways-operated and Qatar Airways-marketed flights between Mombasa and Doha during the winter season.
Both airlines will also codeshare across their networks to offer connections and greater choice for travelers. In addition, the airlines will collaborate in other areas, including cargo, airport and ground services, product development, loyalty programs, and procurement, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).
Qatar Airways is strengthening its footprint in Africa through partnerships and acquisitions. In August last year, the airline acquired a 25% stake in South Africa’s privately owned carrier Airlink. It is also in the process of taking a significant stake in Rwanda’s national airline, RwandAir. This transaction has not yet been finalized.
Growing Presence in Africa
“This partnership is yet another demonstration of our deepening ties with the African region,” Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said in a press release. “Today’s agreement – which comes as we celebrate 20 years of flying to Kenya – is coupled with our recognisable record of partnerships across the continent, most recently through our investment in Airlink. Our growing collaboration with our African counterparts ensures that Qatar Airways continues to contribute to the continent’s rapidly evolving aviation and economic ecosystem.”
The agreement was signed in Doha by Al Meer and Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka.
“This partnership perfectly aligns with our airline’s robust turnaround strategy, which saw Kenya Airways’ return to profit for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year. The collaboration will also help expedite Kenya Airways’ efforts to boost tourism and air cargo activities, turning these and others into pivotal economic growth propellers for Kenya and the East Africa region,” Kilavuka said in a statement.
