Kenya Airways chief executive Sebastian Mikosz (left) and board chairman Michael Joseph at a media briefing in Nairobi on September 21, 2017. [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
Kenya Airways has asked for government protection against African and Middle East competitors that fly into Nairobi.
In a Thursday press conference, KQ chief executive Sebastian Mikosz said that the state subsidies that were extended to carriers such as RwandAir, Ethiopian, and Gulf airlines like Etihad mean that they will not be competing on an even field.
“Everybody wants an airline, the question is; are we all playing the same rules?” asked Mr Mikosz.
KQ chairman Michael Joseph said that the company had been in discussions with the state and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) over the matter prior to the general elections and that the negotiations were set to continue after the current political season.
“We need to have a bit more aggressive strategies from the government in protecting our airline and our airport,” said Mr Joseph.