Corporate News
Kenya Airways' Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at JKIA, Nairobi. FILE
By WANGUI MAINA
In Summary
- The B777-300 ER is the largest in its fleet with a capacity of 400 passengers and over 20 metric tonnes of cargo.
Kenya Airways (KQ ) has received its second Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, boosting its plans for starting more long-haul flights.
The national carrier expects to receive ten new
aircraft this financial year, with the B777-300 ER being the second
following the delivery of the first Boeing 787, Dreamliner, last month.
KQ has pegged its plans to penetrate the
potentially lucrative Asian market on the long-haul aircraft which can
fly to far-off destinations such as China non-stop.
The B777-300 ER is the largest in its fleet with a capacity of 400 passengers and over 20 metric tonnes of cargo.
“This is the second of 10 new aircraft that we
expect this year. The acquisition of these aircraft will pave way for
the introduction of new intercontinental flights and increasing the
frequency on existing ones,” said KQ chairman Evanson Mwaniki.
He added that the new aircraft, which is part of
the airline’s extensive expansion plan, will help it increase its
competitiveness especially in long-haul routes.
KQ is set to receive another Boeing 777-300ER and
five new Boeing 787s Dreamliners before end of the year as well as two
Boeing 737-800 ERs
.
.
The B777-300 is proving popular with Ethiopian
Airlines also counting on the same aircraft to grow its long-haul routes
having received its first delivery in November, a three weeks after KQ.
Both airlines have aggressively positioned
themselves to move passengers between Africa and the East through their
Addis Ababa and Nairobi hubs. KQ will from next month deploy its first
B777-800 on the Nigeria route.
The new aircraft is leased from General Electric
Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). It will begin operations in June 2,
flying on the European and Asian routes.
No comments:
Post a Comment