In what it says is part of its transformation programme, Kenya Airways has announced several flight scheduling changes that will take effect from March 27, 2016.
The changes are expected to boost connectivity for passengers in Africa by at least 20%. The changes take into account the reopening of the Nairobi’s JKIA runway which was undergoing an upgrade by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and which saw it closed for six hours daily, from 12 midnight to 6AM for a year.
KQ will now operate more hours of the day, thereby ensuring efficient use of its aircraft and crew. Through this, there will be room for an increase in flight frequencies to some cities in its network, especially in Africa. More flights during the day make for more options to connect between destinations.
KQ Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze said the rationale behind this hub redesign programme is to augment operations as the company seeks to return to profitability in the next two years.
“In the last two years we have improved fleet utilisation by 30% by re-looking at our schedule and enhancing it to suit our customer needs. Through this, the airline is has the same number of seats, but with a much lower cost of the fleet,” said Mbuvi.
In the changes, Africa is the main beneficiary allowing better connectivity into Europe and Asia. Intra-Africa connectivity will also be enhanced by the new schedule where Kenya and East Africa remain the key focus areas for KQ.
There are five daily frequencies on the Entebbe route as well as Dar es Salaam. There are up to three frequencies per day to Arusha, Bujumbura, Kigali and Juba.
In the domestic market, Malindi is served two times, Kisumu four times and Mombasa eight times daily.
Other routes are Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, North Africa and Europe.
And for international arrivals, all flights into JKIA have been moved to the newly operational state of art Terminal 1A. The terminal was complete for occupation last week and KQ’s flights from Africa, Europe and Asia will now disembark at the terminal which is linked to Terminal 1A Departures.
Kenya Airways Ground Services Director Francis Musila said, “T1A arrivals and departure facilities will be used exclusively by Kenya Airways and its partner airlines. They include spacious check-in area, central security screening for all departing and transferring passengers, bright and roomy waiting areas, world class lounges'.”
The new arrivals terminal comes to life more than two years after a fire ravaged the international arrivals hall in August 2013.