Kenya Airways | Our History

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Kenya Airways History

Kenya Airways, a member of the Sky Team Alliance, is a leading African airline flying to 42 destinations worldwide, 35 of which are in Africa and carries over four million passengers annually. In 2020 KQ was named Africa’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards.

2023
- Kenya Airways Unveils New ‘Asante Rewards’ Loyalty Program to Reward Customers.
- Kenya Airways becomes the first African Airline to fly possibly the Most Sustainable long haul commercial Flight from Africa to Europe
- Kenya Airways Cargo Receives IATA's CEIV Certification for Pharmaceutical Logistics Excellence
- Kenya Airways Introduces Revamped Inflight Dining Experience
- Kenya Airways Launches its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Policy and Public Awareness Campaign
2022
- Kenya Airways Pride Centre Becomes 1st African Training Centre to be Certified Excellent for the Dangerous Goods Training Program by IATA
- Kenya Airways Introduces a New Service Between Ghana and Senegal
- Kenya Airways Begins Non-Stop Flights Between Mombasa and Dubai
- Kenya Airways; the official Travel Partner for the M Sport Ford World Rally Team for WRC Safari Rally Kenya
- Kenya Airways’ Subsidiary, Fahari Aviation and Eve sign agreement to scale Urban Air Mobility with an order of up to 40 eVTOLs to fly people and cargo
- Kenya Airways Participates in the First SkyTeam Member Airlines Sustainable Flight Challenge
2021
- Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) partners with Kenya Airways to showcase Kenya’s iconic wildlife to the World
- Kenya Airways and South African Airways Sign Strategic Partnership Framework
- Kenya Airways Spearheads IATA’s Gender Equality Pledge
- Kenya Airways Launches Fahari Innovation Hub
- Kenya Airways unveils its first “Preighter” as it seeks to address the growing demand for air cargo and prepares for the distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccine
2020
- Kenya Airways resumes international flights to 30 destinations across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East
- Kenya Airways CEO Elected To IATA Board of Governors
- KQ Board confirms Allan Kilavuka as Group Managing Director & CEO
- Kenya Airways expands codeshare partnership with Alitalia into Africa, Europe, Far East and South American destinations
2019
- Kenya Airways and British Airways Expand Connectivity between Europe and Africa
- Kenya Airways rolls out the latest technology in revenue management
- Kenya Airways has received the prestigious African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Airline of the Year Award for Best Improved in Intra-Africa Connectivity
- Kenya Airways signs deal with GE Aviation for digital solutions to boost efficiency
2018
- Kenya Airways Starts Daily Flight to Mogadishu, Somalia
- Kenya Airways receives formal approval to facilitate direct flights to the U.S.A
- Kenya Airways launches its new catering service as part of the revamped overall customer experience
- Kenya Airways Launches Direct Flights To Mauritius
- Kenya Airways launches non-stop flights to Cape Town
2017
- Kenya Airways starts ticket sales for its non-stop daily flight to New York.
- Acquisition by KQ Lenders Company 2017 Limited of 2,219,285,317 ordinary shares of Kenya Airways PLC (representing 38.1% of the issued shares of the Company).
- Completion of the restructuring of the debt and equity of Kenya Airways PLC.
2016
- Kenya Airways Tops Heathrow's Punctuality Rankings Once Again.
- Kenya Airways launches its new website.
2015
- Kenya Airways Technical appointed an Embraer Authorized Service Centre
- Kenya Airways wins Africa's Leading Airline-Business Class in the World Travel Awards 2015
- Kenya Airways Cargo wins African Cargo Airline of the Year Award 2015
2014
- Kenya Airways receives first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft
- Kenya Airways receives second Boeing 777-300ER aircraft
- Kenya Airways wins Best Cargo Airline in Africa Award
- Kenya Airways wins International Safety Award 2014
2013
- Kenya Airways receives first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft
- Kenya Airways wins in World Travel Awards 2013
- Kenya Airways awarded “Best International Airline”
- Kenya Airways Cargo wins prestigious Global Award
- Kenya Airways Receives First Fully Owned Freighter Jet
- Kenya Airways Pride Centre granted new IATA Certification
- Kenya Airways Clinches Key Environmental Certification
- Kenya Airways CEO feted for ‘Contribution to Air Transport Business'
- Kenya Airways and Etihad Airways in Codeshare Deal to Enhance their Global Network Coverage
- Kenya Airways and Safaricom launch “Fly with bonga points” pact
- Kenya Airways and Kenya Tourism Board sign joint marketing initiative
- Kenya Airways Launch Direct flights to Livingstone, Blantyre and Abu Dhabi
2012
- Kenya Airways Launch Freighter Service
- Kenya Airways Starts Direct Flights to New Delhi
- Kenya Airways rolls out Sky Priority Service in Partnership with SkyTeam
- Kenya Airways and Barclays Bank of Kenya Unveil KQ Msafiri Visa Credit Card
- GHS Aviation teams up with Kenya Airways to open African regional office
- Kenya Airways introduces 10 weekly flights to Eldoret Kenya Airways adds 10th Embraer to its growing fleet
2011
- Kenya Airways and Boeing finalize order for 9 B787 Dream liners
- Kenya Airways unveils new Embraer Flight Simulator
- Kenya Airways launches a passenger Carbon offsetting program to cut carbon emissions
- Kenya Airways opens new Premier World domestic lounge at the JKIA
- Kenya Airways surpasses 3million passenger mark Kenya Airways Chief Executive appointed to IATA Board of Governors
2010
- Kenya Airways joins the ranks of global airlines as a full SkyTeam member
- Kenya Airways starts flights to Juba, Muscat, Luanda, Nampula, Rome and Malindi
- Kenya Airways named Africa’s Business Airline of the Year
- Kenya Airways to acquires more aircrafts - Embraer E190 and (2) 737-300
- Jet Airways and Kenya Airways enter into Codeshare and Frequent Flyer Partnership
- Kenya Airways announces its Code Share with Qantas
- Kenya Airways signs full content agreement with Travelport
2009
- KQ Partners with Chartis Kenya to Launch Travel Insurance
- KQ and CFC Stanbic Bank launch the KQ Msafiri Gold Credit Card that ones customers free air miles on usage
- KQ customers to use mobile money transfer system, M-PESA to buy tickets
- Kenya Airways acquires a sixth Boeing 767-300 ER to increase its aircraft fleet
- Kenya Airways installs modern In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) System that offers passengers real value for money
- Kenya Airways signs a Code Share Agreement with Nigerian Eagle Airlines to strengthen its presence and increase market share in West Africa
- Kenya Airways launches direct flights to Gaborone, Botswana, Ndola, Zambia, Bangui, the largest city in the Central African Republic and to Kisangani; the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Kenya Airways (KQ) takes delivery of its fourth Boeing 737-800 aircraft
2008
- COYA (Company of the Year) top awards for strategic planning and emergency preparedness as well as Manager of the Year to HR Director Paul Kasimu
- Travel News Lifestyle Magazine votes Kenya Airways as African Airline of Choice, Best Regional Airline, Flying Blue voted the best Frequent Flier program and Msafiri - Best inflight magazine
2007
- Kenya Airways awarded a 2-year renewal on its IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) registration
- Kenya Airways joins SkyTeam as an Associate Airline Kenya Airways opens a Leadership center - Pride Center
- Kenya Airways opens a Flying Blue Service Center Kenya Airways launches new routes to Monrovia, Cotonou and Mayotte
2006
- Kenya Airways voted East Africa 's Most Respected Company for the second year running
- Kenya Airways announces another record profit after tax of Ksh. 4,829 million for the year ended March 31st ,2006, being 24% above the previous year's result of Ksh. 3,882 million
- Kenya Airways wins the prestigious African Aviation Award awarded by the African Aviation Magazine in March in January
- Kenya Airways opened a new ticketing office at the Village Market in Nairobi
2005
- October 2005 – KQ achieves IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) becoming the 1st carrier in sub-Saharan to get this rigorous safety certification.
- Kenya Airways voted East Africa 's Most Respected Company.
- Kenya Airways launches new route to Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo in February. Delivery of a second new Boeing 777-200ER in April.
- Kenya Airways announces record results for 2004/05, with profit after tax up 198% to Ksh. 3,882 million (US$ 50m).
- Kenya Airways launches new route to Istanbul, Turkey in June. Delivery of a third new Boeing 777-200ER in June.
- Kenya Airways launches new route to Bamako, Mali and Dakar, Senegal in July.
2004
- Kenya Airways scoops triple win as Best Domestic Airline 2003, Best Regional Airline 2002 and 2003 and Best In-flight Magazine 2002 and 2003 by Travel News Lifestyle Magazine
- Kenya Airways delivers the first state-of-the-art Boeing 777 as part of the airline's fleet expansion and the 6th Boeing 767 aircraft.
2003
- Kenya Airways acquires 49% shareholding in Precision Air, a Tanzanian carrier.
2001
- Voted Best User of Information Technology in Kenya by the Computer Society of Kenya
- Kenya Airways named African Airline of the Year for third year running by African Aviation Magazine.
1999
- Voted African Airline of the Year by African Aviation Magazine (UK based publication)
- Voted Best Regional Airline in Eastern Africa by Travel News (a Kenyan publication)
1997
- Delivery of the first of four new Boeing 737-300 aircraft dedicated to domestic and African regional services.
- Kenya Airways Msafiri frequent flier programme merges with KLM's Flying Dutchman frequent flier program.
1996
- An Initial Public Offer for shares is issued in March
1995
- Shareholders' Agreement and a Master Cooperation Agreement with KLM are concluded in December.
- An IFC information memorandum is sent to 154 airlines in search of a 'strategic partner' culminating in the eventual selection of KLM. This takes place in May 1995.
1993 – 1994
- Commercialization process produces the first profits
1992
- A new board is appointed at Kenya Airways in April under the chairmanship of Mr. Philip Ndegwa with a mandate to commercialize and prepare the airline for privatization.
1991
- A policy paper on Public Enterprise Reform and Privatization setting out policy objectives is issued in July. The policy paper gives high priority to the privatization of Kenya Airways
1986
- The Government makes the first move towards privatization by publishing the Sessional Paper No.1 of 1986 on 'Economic Management for Renewed Growth '. The document for the first time spells out the Government's intention to divest from corporations which could be run better by the private sector.
1977
- Kenya Airways is established in January following the breakup of the East African Community and subsequent disbanding of the jointly owned East African Airways