Kenya's national carrier plans a three-pronged expansion this year on its African routes, a senior official said. Kenya Airways Chief Operating Officer Bram Stellar said the three-way strategy will involve the company - which dominates pan-African air space - acquiring five new aircraft, increasing its flights and flying to new destinations.
"We can tap more from the landlocked countries of Africa," Stellar told Reuters on Wednesday in an interview, noting the expansion on the first of the three African routes was projected to take place in the first half of the airline's calendar year, which begins in April.
However he acknowledged rising fuel prices will eat into the airline's margins and force it to raise fares. Ranked as the leading airline in Africa with 43 African routes under its belt, Kenya Airways said it was negotiating for new landing rights with governments on the continent to secure several other African routes. The carrier, which is 26 percent owned by Air France-KLM, plans to purchase two Boeing 737s and three Embraer planes.
Stellar said a key growth avenue was the southern Sudan capital Juba, which attracts daily flights and has experienced exponential growth propelled largely by business travellers. Flights are set to increase to twice a day.
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