Kenya Airways plans to lease at least four additional aircraft to increase capacity as it seeks to return all its planes to service and meet growing demand, Group Acting CEO George Kamal said Wednesday, August 19.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Kenya Airways plans to acquire two Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft before the end of 2026.

The aircraft, which can carry between 162 and 189 passengers depending on configuration, will be used to increase Kenya Airways' available capacity on short- and medium-haul routes.

Kenyans.co.ke has also established that the national carrier is seeking to lease a Boeing 777-300ER, which would provide additional capacity equivalent to about 400 seats.

📌 What You Need to Know

The wide-body aircraft would also give Kenya Airways operational cover when its 77-300ER plane is undergoing maintenance or is grounded unexpectedly.

"We are looking to lease a 777-300ER to be able to increase our capacity but also replace our plane during maintenance or any emergency grounding," Kamal said.

Speaking at a media roundtable at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Kamal said the leasing plan was partly driven by delays in acquiring new aircraft.

Kenya Airways has deployed its existing 777-300ER on the Nairobi-London route when demand requires it.

The airline is also targeting a major expansion of its cargo business as it seeks to increase its share of goods moving through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Kamal said Kenya Airways plans to lease two freighters, a Boeing 767 and a Boeing 777, with the aircraft expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2027.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke