Kenya Airways has unveiled a new onboard shopping service in Nairobi through a five-year partnership with Safari Duty Free ahead of its 1 Nov 2026 launch.

The airline announced the arrangement on 30 Oct 2026 and said it would introduce a mobile-friendly webstore and expand its product catalogue.

Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said, “Duty-free is an important part of the Kenya Airways customer journey.”

The partnership links a Nairobi-headquartered retail group to Kenya Airways’ international passenger network and extends its onboard shopping service to online pre-orders.

The airline said prices would be up to 15 per cent lower than those at airport duty-free shops.

Its announcement did not identify the airport shops or products used for that comparison.

Customers will also receive a five per cent launch discount on all webstore products until 30 Nov 2026 according to the airline.

The webstore will let passengers browse and compare products before placing orders from home or on the move.

Kenya Airways said purchases would be delivered directly to passengers’ seats onboard.

The pre-order window will open 40 days before departure and close 72 hours before the flight.

The airline said the service would include order tracking and round-the-clock customer support with cabin crew providing assistance onboard.

The product selection will cover international brands, luxury goods, lifestyle items, travel exclusives and gifts according to the announcement.

Safari Duty Free will manage and operate the airline’s inflight duty-free retail programme throughout the five-year arrangement.

Its responsibilities will include brand partnerships, product selection, merchandising, digital retail integration and customer service delivery.

Safari Duty Free Managing Director Vivek Mehra said, “We are proud to partner with Kenya Airways at such an exciting moment for inflight retail.”

The arrangement gives Safari Duty Free responsibility for both the product offering and the digital shopping service across the airline’s programme.

The announcement did not disclose the contract value or revenue-sharing terms between the two companies.

Kenya Airways said its network covers 42 destinations worldwide including 35 in Africa.

The airline belongs to the SkyTeam Alliance and operates through its hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

Safari Duty Free forms part of Safari Group of Companies whose businesses cover domestic retail, diplomatic retail and travel retail.

The group is headquartered in Nairobi according to the company background accompanying the announcement.

Kenya Airways said customers could access the webstore at www.dutyfree.kenya-airways.com ahead of the service launch on 1 Nov 2026.

Kenya Airways has signed a partnership with Art of Luxury at GTC Mall to link its loyalty programme with shopping and lifestyle experiences.

The agreement includes a bulk purchase of five million Asante Rewards points and joint marketing across selected airline channels according to the release.

“The partners will also explore exclusive luxury experiences for the airline’s premium customers,” the press release said.

The partnership matters to Kenya’s business landscape because it connects airline customer loyalty with retail marketing through a single commercial agreement.

The release identified Art of Luxury as a premium retail destination bringing together international luxury brands.

Kenya Airways will promote the retailer through airport advertising, its in-flight magazine, digital content, email communications and video.

These placements form the marketing component of an agreement that also brings the airline’s Asante Rewards programme into the retail partnership.

The release said the collaboration was expected to strengthen brand visibility and expand opportunities for customer engagement.

It also said the agreement would support the growth of Asante Rewards and create opportunities for future joint campaigns.

The signing took place at the recently opened Art of Luxury shop at GTC Mall according to the supplied image caption.

The caption identified Habil Waswani as Kenya Airways’ Acting Group Managing Director and CEO at the signing ceremony.

It also identified Mahesh Shahani as Art of Luxury’s CEO and pictured him alongside Waswani during the signing.

The release did not provide direct comments from either executive on the agreement’s commercial terms or expected business returns.

The five million points purchase is the only quantified element disclosed in the announcement and provides no indication of the partnership’s monetary value.

The release did not identify the purchaser of the points or explain how customers would receive or use them under the agreement.

That leaves the customer offer less defined than the marketing plan through the airline’s communications and advertising channels.

For Art of Luxury the agreement provides promotion through Kenya Airways channels rather than a retail-only approach to reaching customers.

For Kenya Airways the stated objectives centre on customer engagement and growth of its existing loyalty programme through a retail relationship.

The announcement did not specify the international brands involved or identify particular products that would feature in the proposed shopping experiences.

The partners described premium customer experiences as an area to explore rather than announcing a completed package available to travellers.

Future joint campaigns remain part of the partnership’s stated scope but the release provided no launch date or implementation timetable.

Air France presented chef Mory Sacko’s Business Class menu at the French Embassy in Nairobi on 15 Oct 2026 as dishes enter service between Nairobi and Paris.

For Kenya’s aviation catering sector, the collaboration involves Nas Servair as Air France-KLM’s lead catering partner in the country.

Air France-KLM regional general manager for East and Southern Africa Joris Holtus said the tasting explained the thinking behind the menu.

“The tasting gave our guests the opportunity to experience the story behind the menu rather than simply hear about it,” Holtus said.

Air France said in its 19 Oct 2026 release that the menu comprises 12 original dishes created for the airline.

The selection includes vegetarian, fish, red meat and poultry options.

The airline said it is introducing the dishes progressively so passengers departing Nairobi can encounter different meals as the menu rotates.

The tasting brought together culinary experts, enthusiasts and influencers to sample selected dishes and learn about their ingredients and preparation.

Air France said guests responded positively to the menu but the release did not include comments from individual reviewers.

Nas Servair regional executive chef Gilles Pommier said the dishes combine African culinary traditions with French cooking techniques.

“Chef Sacko’s dishes genuinely bring together African flavours and culinary traditions with the techniques and refinement of French cuisine,” Pommier said.

Among the dishes is lamb shank confit with spices served alongside Provence-style jus with gnocchi and gboma spinach.

The release describes gboma spinach as a traditional African eggplant species widely cultivated across East, West and Central Africa.

Air France said the Nairobi tasting explored how African ingredients and food traditions inform Sacko’s approach to French cuisine.

Sacko has Senegalese and Malian heritage and runs the Paris restaurant MoSuke.

According to the release, MoSuke received a Michelin star in 2020 shortly after opening.

The airline said his work interprets French and West African culinary traditions through contemporary cooking.

For passengers on the Nairobi route, the change concerns Business Class dining rather than a new flight service.

The collaboration forms part of Air France’s wider work with chefs to incorporate different culinary influences across its international network.

Air France belongs to the Air France-KLM Group alongside KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Transavia.

The group connects more than 300 destinations worldwide with over 500 aircraft, according to the release.

Sacko’s menus are also being introduced in Cotonou, Dakar, Libreville and Lagos under Air France’s 2026 to 2027 programme.

Air France has increased capacity on its Paris-Nairobi route by about 12 per cent as rising visitor arrivals strengthen Kenya’s tourism demand.

Air France-KLM General Manager for East and Southern Africa Joris Holtus said the airline deployed larger aircraft in May.

The expansion matters to Kenya because international aviation supports businesses that depend on visitor spending, Holtus said in an opinion article.

“It also enhances trade and investment by connecting Kenya to markets beyond tourism,” Holtus said.

Holtus cited Kenya National Bureau of Statistics data showing 584,825 visitor arrivals between February and April 2026 against 539,044 during the same period in 2025.

That represented an increase of 8.5 per cent over the comparable period, according to the figures cited in his article.

European destinations including Paris, Amsterdam and London accounted for 217,633 arrivals or 37.2 per cent of the total in the cited data.

Holtus also cited a Central Bank of Kenya survey showing forward bookings for August through November rose to 56.25 per cent.

The comparable figure a year earlier was 49.5 per cent, according to the survey figures presented in the article.

Tourism earnings reached Ksh564 billion after an 18.7 per cent increase, Holtus said without specifying the reporting period.

Average spending per tourist reached Ksh204,300 and stood at its highest level in five years, according to Holtus.

He said these indicators pointed to greater economic value from each arrival and an opportunity for airlines to improve access to Kenya.

Holtus said more direct routes and greater frequency could make Kenya accessible to markets previously difficult or expensive to reach.

He said additional capacity could also encourage repeat visits and support travellers combining several destinations within a single trip.

The argument links airline investment to changing traveller preferences, with Holtus saying convenience increasingly matters alongside the destination itself.

Holtus said the benefits extended beyond Nairobi to other tourism hubs in East Africa through the distribution of international visitors.

He identified hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport providers and retailers among businesses supported by international aviation and visitor spending.

Holtus said continued demand growth would require airlines to respond through additional capacity and networks over the longer term.

Air France resumed flights to Kenya eight years ago after an 18-year break, according to Holtus.

The airline has also added Nairobi flights and will maintain the increased capacity throughout the 2026 summer season, he said.

Kenya Airways has partnered with Sabre Corporation and Branchspace to replace its core reservations and ticketing system as the airline modernises its digital retailing operations.

The airline announced the partnerships in a statement dated 22 Sep 2026 and identified Sabre as a Nasdaq-listed company trading under SABR.

Kenya Airways’ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said the programme would strengthen customer experience and staff tools as the airline modernises its retailing model.

“This is an important transformation of Kenya Airways' technology and digital retailing capabilities.” Thairu said.

According to the release, Sabre will replace the platform that has handled Kenya Airways’ bookings, inventory and airport check-in for more than two decades.

Travel technology firm Branchspace will build the customer-facing digital commerce layer for joint delivery with the Sabre platform.

The companies said the changes would support more tailored fares and ancillary options alongside easier bundling of trip components.

They also said passengers would get a smoother mobile and digital booking experience and faster airport check-in.

For Kenya’s aviation market, booking and servicing upgrades can affect conversion rates and distribution costs as competition for regional and intercontinental traffic intensifies.

These systems also affect airlines’ ability to sell higher-margin extras such as seat selection and additional baggage.

The upgrade includes Sabre Mosaic as the airline’s new operational and commercial backbone.

The release said Mosaic Offer Optimisation would use continuous learning and dynamic pricing to match offers to traveller demand.

Branchspace’s Triplake platform will become Kenya Airways’ primary digital touchpoint “from day one” according to the release.

Commercial teams will gain direct control over personalised offers across booking channels as the airline moves towards an offer-and-order infrastructure.

The shift reflects a broader global trend towards modernising passenger service systems (PSS) and retailing tools.

Carriers are seeking to increase direct sales and improve self-service alongside better handling of operational disruptions.

Thairu said combining digital commerce with a new PSS foundation would create a more flexible and personalised experience for customers and staff.

He said the combination would also support a smooth transition towards the future of airline retailing.

Sabre’s Chief Commercial Officer for Airline Technology Niklas Andréen said the agreement reflected demand for modular technology that airlines can introduce in stages.

“I'm incredibly proud that Kenya Airways has chosen Sabre as its strategic technology partner” Andréen said.

He said Kenya Airways was upgrading its core systems and advancing towards the next generation of travel retailing.

Andréen said the decision reflected growing confidence in modular technology that delivers value today while supporting an offer-and-order future.

Branchspace Chief Technology Officer David Turton said Triplake would give the airline more control over offer creation and retailing across channels.

Turton said technology could give airlines control over their commercial direction when supported by technical knowledge and continuous innovation.

“Kenya Airways is taking a bold step in their transformation to a modern retailer” Turton said.

He said Branchspace was proud that its capabilities would play a central role in that transition from the first day.

Kenya Airways said the move aligned it with the International Air Transport Association’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standards.

Those standards support richer airline content and more flexible retailing through modern distribution.

The release said Sabre’s modular approach would allow Kenya Airways to modernise in stages rather than through a single cutover.

The airline did not disclose the contracts’ value or an implementation timeline.

Kenya Airways said the partnerships supported its ambitions to expand its network and increase direct sales and ancillary revenue.

Expected milestones include phased deployment of reservations, ticketing, digital commerce and airport servicing capabilities as the airline moves towards an offer-and-order operating model.

Kenya Airways (NSE: KQ) and Rubis Energy Kenya have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) refinery in Nairobi, a project the companies said would be Africa’s first dedicated SAF facility. The companies announced the agreement on 12 May 2026 in Nairobi, saying the facility will be sited near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to connect production with existing fuel infrastructure and airline demand.

In a joint statement, the partners said the MOU sets the framework for “joint engineering, financing, and operation” of a facility designed to produce lower-carbon aviation fuel using local waste feedstocks. The signing was witnessed by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron during the Africa Forward Summit, according to the news release.

The project will use Dragonfly’s modular refinery technology to process feedstocks including used cooking oils, waste animal fats and other vegetable oils, the companies said. The planned facility is expected to have a production capacity of 32,000 tonnes and requires an estimated investment of about KES 8.4–9.8 billion (€60–70 million), based on figures provided in the release.

The announcement comes as airlines and fuel suppliers globally face increasing regulatory and investor pressure to cut emissions, with SAF widely viewed as an important near- to medium-term option for reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. For Kenya, a local SAF supply chain would also touch multiple sectors, including waste collection and processing, logistics, manufacturing, and airport fuel distribution.

Kenya Airways Acting Group Managing Director and CEO George Kamal linked the project to aviation decarbonisation and current fuel consumption at JKIA. “The expansion of air transport is linked to a growing share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport consumes 2.9 million litres of jet fuel every day, an amount equal to filling the tanks of 52,727 family cars,” Kamal said.

Kamal said the airline currently relies on imported jet fuel and framed the proposed refinery as a way to produce an alternative locally. “While we currently depend entirely on imports, this refinery allows us to produce a sustainable, local version of that fuel,” he said, adding that SAF would support the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) net-zero CO₂e emissions target by 2050.

Rubis and Dragonfly said the project will include skills development and a target timeline for commissioning. Jean-Christian Bergeron, Co-Managing Partner of Rubis and CEO of Rubis Énergie, said, “Our priority will be technology transfer and ensuring that training is provided for local skills development so that the facility, and associated supply chains, will be operated and managed by Kenyans.”

Dragonfly intends to bring the facility online within 24 months, according to the release. Karl W. Feilder, CEO of Dragonfly, said, “The critical advantage of this project is that a Dragonfly refinery can be sited close to both the feedstock and the consumers of the fuel, and utilise the existing Rubis infrastructure to provide a long-term daily supply of SAF to Kenya Airways at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.”

If executed, the refinery could position Nairobi as an early SAF production hub in East Africa, with implications for airline operating costs, supply security, and the development of a formal market for waste oils and fats. However, key details—such as final investment decision timing, project ownership structure, feedstock supply contracts, pricing, and regulatory approvals—were not disclosed in the statement.

The partners said the MOU provides the basis for engineering and financing work to proceed. The next milestones will include detailed project development, securing funding, and concluding arrangements for feedstock supply and offtake, as the proponents work toward the 24-month commissioning target cited by Dragonfly.

Air France will increase capacity on its Nairobi–Paris route by 12% from May 15, 2026, as part of its 2026 summer schedule, the airline said in a press release dated April 9, 2026 in Nairobi. The carrier will deploy a larger Boeing 777-200 aircraft on the route, replacing what it described as its regular Airbus A350 operation, in a move it said is aimed at strengthening connectivity between East Africa and Europe.

According to Air France, the adjustment comes as the airline expands its global summer network to “close to 170 destinations across 73 countries,” with long-haul capacity rising by 2% compared with 2025. The airline said the additional capacity is being allocated to selected cities including Nairobi, alongside Asian destinations such as Tokyo, Singapore and Bangkok, as carriers recalibrate schedules to reflect changing travel demand and disruptions affecting some Middle East routings.

The airline positioned the Nairobi–Paris service as a key long-haul link for the region, connecting Kenya to its hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle. Air France said the “approximately nine-hour flight” provides onward connections to “more than 300 destinations” via the Air France-KLM and SkyTeam networks, including routes serving North America where business and diaspora travel demand is concentrated.

“Air France’s is enhancing its capacity on the Nairobi–Paris route by introducing the Boeing 777-200 as from May 15, resulting in a 12% increase in available seats compared to its regular Boeing A350,” the airline said in the statement. It added that the changes are expected to support demand across “business, diplomatic and tourism segments.”

The announcement adds to a competitive landscape at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where Kenya’s role as a regional aviation and business hub has drawn sustained interest from international airlines. Nairobi’s concentration of diplomatic missions and multinational regional headquarters supports premium travel volumes, while the country’s tourism sector depends heavily on reliable air links to Europe and connecting traffic to North America and Asia.

In the release, Air France linked its wider network adjustments to broader changes in global aviation patterns. It cited “continued instability in parts of the Middle East” as a factor forcing airlines to reconfigure routes and redeploy aircraft, with some capacity redirected toward Asia and Africa where demand “remains resilient.” For Kenya, such shifts can influence seat availability, pricing, and the stability of connections for exporters, corporate travel programmes, and inbound tourism supply chains.

The airline also outlined product and service initiatives it said are being rolled out across its fleet as competition intensifies on long-haul routes. Air France said it is expanding the rollout of its La Première first-class suites, including on African routes, and introducing free ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi across its fleet, with full deployment “targeted by the end of the year.”

From a market perspective, incremental capacity increases on the Nairobi–Europe corridor can improve scheduling options for corporates, development organisations, and conference travel while supporting onward connectivity for Kenyan firms with operations in Europe and North America. Additional seats may also help tourism operators manage peak-season demand, although the impact on fares will depend on broader supply dynamics, load factors and competitor capacity.

Air France said flight schedules for the 2026 summer season are now available through its booking channels.

Kenya Airways said global aviation supply-chain disruptions and aircraft maintenance constraints significantly impacted its full-year performance for the period ended 31 December 2025, even as demand for travel remained firm and the airline pursued capacity recovery and diversification.

During the results announcement, Kenya Airways Chairman Kiprono Kittony said the carrier’s performance should be viewed against an industry backdrop of “unprecedented operational constraints”, including supply-chain delays and reduced aircraft availability, rather than a collapse in passenger demand.

“While our financial performance reflects a challenging year, it is important to recognise that this was driven primarily by global supply chain disruptions and not a lack of demand. The appetite for travel remains strong, and the strategic relevance of Kenya Airways has never been more evident,” Kittony said.

Maintenance, groundings and operating shocks

According to a results backgrounder shared with media, Kenya Airways said maintenance and grounded aircraft were the main drag on 2025 performance, with additional cost pressures stemming from engine shortages, bird-strike damage in Nairobi, longer routings due to airspace closures, and higher fuel burn on rerouted flights to Europe.

The airline estimated that bird strikes have, over roughly seven years, resulted in at least eight engines being on the ground at one point and two engines becoming “beyond economic repair,” according to the backgrounder.

Management also noted that passenger operations remain low-margin, describing passenger unit contribution as “very thin,” which increases the financial impact of disruptions. The airline cited further constraints including supply-chain delays for parts, a global shortage of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity, and the cost of keeping aircraft and employees on the ground while awaiting engines, repairs or scheduled maintenance.

Kenya Airways also pointed to operational constraints at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), including baggage and processing bottlenecks, and to regulatory and tax conditions that, it said, leave African carriers structurally disadvantaged compared with better-supported competitors.

Stabilisation strategy and engineering capability

Kenya Airways said it is entering a second phase of its turnaround centred on stabilisation, capacity recovery and diversification. The airline’s immediate priorities include restoring aircraft availability, protecting cash and reducing the cost burden of an ageing fleet entering heavy maintenance cycles.

Management said several aircraft have been released back to service, with more undergoing A-checks and C-checks between January and June in order to return in time for the June-to-October peak season.

The airline highlighted what it described as its first in-house heavy check on a Boeing 787 as a milestone for its engineering capability. It also said it has regained unrestricted EASA Part 145 certification, including approval for the Boeing 777, which it said strengthens its ability to serve other carriers.

Cargo expansion and market-share targets

Cargo is becoming a larger part of the business model, with management positioning it as a growth engine alongside passenger operations. Kenya Airways said thin passenger margins—estimated at US$1.30–US$1.40 per seat (about KES 168–181, using an indicative rate of KES 129 per US dollar)—make cargo and belly-hold capacity important for resilience.

The airline said it has expanded cargo capacity from 70 tonnes daily (across four 737 freighters) to 180 tonnes, and is targeting a larger share of the market. Kenya Airways said it is handling 28% of Kenya’s cargo market and cited a recent capacity purchase agreement involving a Boeing 747 freighter that moved nearly 100 tonnes inbound from Sharjah and dispatched over 110 tonnes of perishables outbound to the UAE.

Looking ahead, Kenya Airways said two additional 777 freighters, each with 100 tonnes capacity, are planned—one in four months and another by November 2026—targeting over 40% Kenyan market share and 15% African share, subject to partnerships and operating conditions outlined in the backgrounder.

Why it matters for Kenya

The airline argued that its performance and capacity have outsized implications for exporters, tourism, and Nairobi’s position as a regional hub. The backgrounder stated that aviation and tourism drive 40% of Kenya’s services exports, contribute US$3.3 billion to GDP (about KES 426 billion), and support 21,000 direct jobs plus 500,000 indirect jobs. It also said Kenya Airways carries 5.2 million of JKIA’s roughly 9 million annual passengers, or about 60% of total traffic.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the cargo push could support horticulture and other time-sensitive exports, while expanded maintenance capability could reduce reliance on foreign MRO capacity and create new revenue streams from third-party servicing. However, the airline’s outlook remains tied to global supply chains, fleet availability and airport infrastructure performance.

Outlook

Kenya Airways said the outlook is “cautiously positive,” contingent on continued improvement in maintenance recovery, supply-chain access and policy support. The airline expects more aircraft to return to service, stronger cargo contribution and improved unit economics as peak season demand comes through and heavy checks are completed ahead of the busy months.