Kenya Airways Increases Flights to the US on High Demand

Kenya Airways has increased frequencies to the US to four a week as demand for bookings picks up

KQ said it has seen an increased demand for bookings in the route.

It further increased frequencies from two weekly to match the growing travel.

Kenya Airways Struggles

The airline has been struggling with low numbers on the US route.

This move saw the carrier suspend the flights to one a week after resuming operations last year in November

However, in June this year, KQ increased flights to three on this route as the summer season peaked.

“We have increased our direct flights on the New York-Nairobi route to four times a week to allow more families to reconnect this festive season,” said KQ.

The US route is one of the crucial destinations for the national carrier as it plays a major role in connecting travelers who transit through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

KQ is the only airline in East Africa that flies directly to the US.

This makes it easier for passengers from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania to connect through Nairobi.

Kenya Airways had forecast its daily direct flights to the US would boost annual revenues by more than 10 percent in 2019 and 2020.

 This was not to be met because of the disruptions caused by Covid-19, according to Business Daily.

Revenue Streams

The national carrier normally makes the bulk of its revenue at the onset of summer.

The season runs through June to September when demand for air travel is high.

A sharp decline in summer bookings last year saw Kenya Airways losses nearly triple to Sh36.2 billion in the year ending December.

This is as the carrier sank deeper into the red following a slump in passenger numbers occasioned by Covid-19.