Kenya Airways CEO calls for greater cooperation and capital investment
July 1, 2025
Kenya Airways CEO, Allan Kilavuka, says airline partnerships are key to unlocking the continent’s aviation potential, as the airline seeks capital injection.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, Allan Kilavuka, said that wider cooperation and collaboration is needed between African airlines to boost revenue and unlock the continent’s aviation potential.
Competing in a global market
“African carriers are very small compared to global peers and should collaborate rather than compete to ensure profitability,” Kilavuka said.
He added that when compared to airlines in Europe, the US or Asia, most African carriers “operate with limited fleets and struggle with profitability.
“That is why we need to consolidate. Let’s stop fighting each other and focus on building alliances that can help us grow.”
Kenya’s flag carrier has already launched a platform, known as the pan-African Airline Group. Originally proposed as a joint venture between Kenya Airways and South African Airlines, Kenya Airways is currently seeking other African airline partners due to SAA wanting to “slow the process,” according to Kilavuka. Earlier this year the Kenyan carrier signed a codeshare agreement with Safarilink adding nine new safari destinations to its network.
Strategic partnerships, said Kilavuka, will enable airlines to combine resources such as maintenance facilities, training programmes, and fuel supply, ultimately cutting the unit cost of operations. This in turn will help reduce passenger fares.
Highlighting that the high cost of air travel and high operating costs are a major challenge for the continent’s aviation sector, Kilavuka also insisted it is time for African airlines to change this narrative by working together to offer more affordable and accessible flight options.
In a report released earlier this year and titled Value of Air Transport to Kenya, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) highlighted the immense power of a thriving aviation sector for Kenya, revealing its contribution of Ksh425 ($3.3 billion) to the African nation’s GDP and supporting 460,000 jobs, 5,700 of which are directly employed by airlines.
Is an investment deal on the table for Kenya Airways?
According to a report on KBC Business, Kenya Airways is also actively pursuing a strategic investor to inject fresh capital into the airline as it targets a major fleet expansion and operational stability by 2030.
Confirming that he anticipates a deal being finalised before the end of the year, Kilavuka said on Monday that a capital injection is critical to expanding the airline’s fleet to more than 60 aircraft over the next five years.
The airline began its search for an investor in early 2024, but has since been plagued by regulatory shifts, supply chain disruptions, regional conflicts and a surge in material costs, which have impacted maintenance schedules and slowed delivery times.
“Additional capital will help us strengthen operations and address current capacity gaps,” concluded Kilavuka. Three of the airlines’ nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners currently remain grounded while they await maintenance and engine overhauls.
