Kenya Airways to Boost Operations with New Flight Schedule

As part of its transformation program, Kenya Airways has announced several flight scheduling changes that will take effect from 27^th March 2016. The changes are expected to boost connectivity for ​its passengers in Africa by at least 20 ​percent.

The changes take into account the reopening of the Nairobi’s JKIA runway which was undergoing an upgrade by the Kenya Airports Authority that saw it closed for six hours daily, from 12 midnight to 6 AM for a year.

Kenya Airways will now operate more hours of the day, thereby ensuring efficient use of its aircraft and crew. Through this, there will be room for an increase in flight frequencies to some cities in its network, especially in Africa. More flights during the day make for more options to connect between destinations.

Kenya Airways’ Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze said the rationale behind this hub redesign program is to augment operations as the company seeks to return to profitability in the next two years.

“In the last two years we have improved fleet utilization by 30% by re-looking at our schedule and enhancing it to suit our customer needs. Through this, the airline is has the same number of seats, but with a much lower cost of the fleet,” said Mbuvi.

Africa

Africa is the main beneficiary of the changes, allowing for better connectivity into Europe and Asia. Intra Africa connectivity will also be enhanced by the new schedule.

Kenya and East Africa

East Africa remains to be one of the key focus areas for KQ, with 5 daily frequencies on Entebbe as well as on Dar es Salaam and up to 3 frequencies per day on Arusha, Bujumbura, Kigali and Juba.

In the domestic market, Malindi is served 2 times per day, Kisumu 4 times per day and Mombasa 8 times per day.

Southern Africa

Kenya Airways has introduced another flight to Johannesburg, making it 4 flights daily to the South African capital. There are now night flights to Antananarivo in Madagascar increasing frequency to twice a day.

 West and Central Africa

Bangui sees a frequencies increase to 3 times per week. Recently introduced night flights to Kinshasa and Lagos and reopened flights to Freetown and Monrovia continue into the new schedule. Doula operations are back to normal after the runaway reopened in the capital of Cameroon.

North Africa

Kenya Airways will offer additional flights to Addis Ababa, making a total of 3 flights every day to the Ethiopian capital. Morning departures from Nairobi to Addis are at 7:20 AM with a return flight in the evening at 8:00 PM from Addis to Nairobi. This will give greater flexibility for business travelers who have now an opportunity to travel for business within one day.

 Europe

Kenya Airways will change its flight schedule on the Nairobi – London routes effective March 27, 2016 to ensure efficiency.

In the new schedule the flight will depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 09h10 to arrive into London at 16h15. Then depart from London for Nairobi the same evening arriving in Nairobi the next morning.  Currently the flight departs Nairobi in the evening arriving in London the next morning.

The airline will also introduce six extra weekend flights in its schedule for flights between Amsterdam and Nairobi from August 5 until 21 August 2016 as part of its summer schedule.  The additional flight will depart Nairobi in the evening to arrive in Amsterdam early morning the next day and depart from Amsterdam for Nairobi the same morning arriving late afternoon in Nairobi.

These are expected to improve connectivity to and from the US and Europe with an early morning arrival into and departure from Amsterdam to Nairobi.

Terminal One A arrivals

All arriving flights into JKIA Nairobi have been moved to the newly operational state of art Terminal 1A for international arrivals.

The new terminal was complete for occupation last week and Kenya Airway’s flights from Africa, Europe and Asia will now disembark at the terminal which is linked to Terminal 1A Departures.

This will enhance the KQ customer experience with less busing of passengers to arrivals. Busing is expected to reduce by at least 40% and passengers will disembark directly into the terminal.

Kenya Airways Ground Services Director Francis Musila said “we are very pleased with the move.  T1A arrivals and departure facilities will be used exclusively by Kenya Airways and its partner’s airlines. They include spacious check-in area, central security screening for all departing and transferring passengers, bright and roomy waiting areas, world class lounges’.”

The new arrivals terminal comes more two years after a fire ravaged the international arrivals hall in JKIA in August 2013.