Kenya Airways (KQ) has outlined further key developments in terms of its planned route network and fleet upgrades that form its previously announced 10 year vision, Project Mawingu.
According to Mr. Abraham Joseph, Kenya Airways' Regional General Manager for South Asia, Middle East and North Africa, the Middle Middle East has seen considerable growth in aviation in the last few years.
"The Gulf region has provided great opportunities for growth especially to the African continent. Currently, we offer 10 weekly flights from Dubai to Nairobi, with excellent connections to the rest of Africa. We also have three weekly flights from Dubai to Hong Kong, with immediate connections to Manila and other South East and Far East destinations.”
He further added, “Our Jeddah flights will start on the 2nd June 2013 with two flights a week, and flights to and from Abu Dhabi will start with three weekly flights from the 2nd of July. We also recently signed a code share agreement with Etihad which will enable us to work together in developing traffic from the Middle East to the African continent. By mid-2014, we have plans to start flying to Beirut three times a week.”
Source [GoDubai]
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| Kenya Airways planned 2021 network (KenyaAirways) |
The 10-year growth plan, Project Mawingu – from
the Swahili word for clouds – aims to operate 119 aircraft with a similar increase in destinations from 58 to 115 routes in
77 countries in six continents by 2021.
Kenya Airways' 10-year plan will see a significant increase in new aircraft. To date, it has firm orders for nine B787s (with 20 options) and three B777-300ERs for which delivery starts in the first quarter of 2014. In addition, the company plans to expand its narrow-bodied fleet, subject to further orders, which will facilitate expansion across Africa and the Middle East. Overall, Kenya Airways envisions operating thirty-two 787s by 2021, which will eventually become the carrier's workhorse.
Kenya Airways Cargo is also planning a sizeable freighter aircraft fleet expansion.
Having recently taken delivery of a Boeing 737-300(F) aircraft (the first of three), the company envisions having seven 777-200LR freighters in FY2020/21. It also intends to expand its 737-400(F) fleet to five, giving the airline a dedicated freighter fleet of 12.
Lastly there is also the pending launch of the airline's Low Cost Carrier wing, Jambo Jet, set to commence operations later this year.
Download a copy of Kenya Airways' original Project Mawingu proposal here.
Thanks to Valentine Nhunzvi