Kenya Airways and South African Airways is all set to launch a pan-African airline group in 2024 as a part of the strategic partnership to enhance connectivity across the continent and support economic growth with increased trade and tourism. The partnership will bring together two of the leading airlines in Africa with a combined network covering more than 50 domestic and international destinations.
Both the airlines are planning to launch one of the largest carriers in Africa with a combined fleet of over 100 aircraft and operating under a single Air Operator Certificate.
This collaboration comes in the wake of raising problems in the African aviation sector like rising fuel prices, foreign airline competition and fragmented market. Africa’s aviation is struggling with rampant problems like high operating costs, limited infrastructure, and regulatory barriers.
Experts feel that the launch of a large pan-African airline could help to address at least some of these issues, by driving economies of scale and creating a more competitive market.
This move will also bring about a positive impact on Africa’s aviation industry by creating new job opportunities, seamless connectivity, more travel options for passengers and increased tourism and trade.
The two airlines will work together on areas such as procurement, maintenance, and training, in a bid to improve efficiency and reduce costs to leverage the strengths of both airlines, including their respective hubs in Nairobi and Johannesburg.
The two airlines have been in discussions about a potential partnership for many years now and this announcement comes after months of negotiations between the two airline groups.