FACILITY: Kenya Airways (KQ) has criticised the government for frequently bypassing the national carrier for foreign trips. Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Allan Kilavuka revealed that currently, the airline handles only about 50 per cent of government travel.
Speaking at the launch of the “Asante Executive Hub” at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, he stated that the airline aims to increase this figure to 80 per cent for government officials travelling internationally.
“The Asante Executive Hub is a testament to our dedication to delivering specialized and high-quality services to our government clientele,” Kilavuka said.
Public criticism
The launch comes amid public criticism of President William Ruto for using charter flights during his trips abroad. Responding to this backlash, Ruto has recently started using KQ for his travels, reinforcing the government’s directive requiring public servants to fly with the national carrier.
This shift is expected to boost KQ’s passenger numbers and strengthen its financial standing.
In 2020, the government mandated that all public servants use KQ for official travel, aiming to save money through concessionary ticket rates and increase the airline’s passenger numbers.
The then Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Michael Kamau, confirmed the cabinet’s approval of this directive and mentioned plans to hire travel agents to assist with ticket procurement.
In its financial results for the half-year ending June 30, 2024, KQ reported a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers, reaching 2.54 million. The airline’s capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs), increased by 16 per cent to 7.9 billion ASKs, while Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) improved by 14 per cent.
Kilavuka emphasised that the Asante Executive Hub positions KQ as a key partner in government travel management, enhancing convenience and efficiency for both government and private sector executives. The hub offers comprehensive travel solutions, including priority ticketing and personaliSed itineraries.
KQ’s Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, Julius Thairu said the hub would address logistical challenges faced by government officials, such as travel schedules and visa procurement.
“We are pioneering innovations and setting new benchmarks for customer satisfaction,” he noted.
Thairu disclosed that the government is the largest traveller with the biggest travel budget, yet KQ captures only 40 per cent of this business. He expressed optimism about increased government support for the national carrier, citing recent trips by Ruto to Beijing, Berlin, and New York using KQ.
“We are just aiming to get to 80 per cent, and it is not a big ask. In many countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, the US, UAE, and Japan, all government officials are mandated by law to travel by their national carriers,” Thairu said.
