Kenya Airways, the East African aviation giant, is gearing up to significantly expand its footprint in Nigeria by establishing a new operational hub in Abuja, as part of its broader strategy to enhance connectivity across the African continent.
In an exclusive interview with journalists at the airline’s office in Lagos, Julius Thiarus, the Customers Commercial Manager of Kenya Airways, revealed the company’s ambitious plans.
Thiarus emphasized the importance of Nigeria as a key market for Africa and highlighted Kenya Airways’ commitment to establishing its presence in major cities across the continent.
“We want to be in every significant city in Africa. We want to fulfil that mandate by coming into Abuja, which is part of our strategy aligning with what we see as growth in travel,” Thiarus stated, underlining the airline’s strategic vision.
Kenya Airways aims to capitalize on the burgeoning market size and economic significance of Nigeria by bolstering its operations in Abuja. Thiarus highlighted the importance of cargo transportation for the airline, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on external sources for essential supplies to Africa.
To this end, Kenya Airways recently added two cargo freighters to its fleet, doubling its capacity to meet the growing demand for cargo services across the continent.
Addressing the issue of low passenger traffic from Nigeria to Kenya, Thiarus outlined plans to increase the airline’s daily frequencies to Lagos from one flight per day to two flights.
He also revealed that Kenya Airways is strongly considering establishing a new route to Abuja, with plans to commence operations next year.
“We are looking at Abuja and probably sometime next year to establish that flight to Kenya and beyond Africa,” Thiarus remarked, highlighting the airline’s commitment to enhancing connectivity between Nigeria and other African countries.
Despite Nigeria’s vast population and potential as a tourism market, Thiarus acknowledged that the current number of Nigerian visitors to Kenya is relatively low.
He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between airlines, tourism boards, and government agencies to promote travel and tourism between Nigeria and Kenya.
“Nigeria is important for Africa, and Africa will never prosper if Nigeria is not prosperous,” Thiarus emphasized, underscoring the significance of Nigeria’s economic growth for the overall development of the continent.
Kenya Airways’ ambitious plans to establish a hub in Abuja signal a new chapter in the airline’s expansion strategy, aiming to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and enhance connectivity across Africa.
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, Kenya Airways remains poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of air travel on the African continent.
