• Kenya Airways aims to raise $500 million by Q1 2026 to expand its fleet from 34 to 53 aircraft over five years.
• The airline posted a pre-tax loss of about $94.1 million in H1 2025 due to grounded Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners affecting passenger numbers and revenue.
• After years of losses and a government bailout, Kenya Airways returned to profit in 2024 thanks to increased capacity and passenger traffic.

Kenya Airways (KQ) aims to secure $500 million by early 2026. This funding will fuel a significant fleet expansion. Management unveiled the plan on Tuesday, August 26, during a briefing on the first half of 2025. This period closed with a pre-tax loss of 12.17 billion shillings (approximately $94.1 million).

The board attributed this loss directly to a decline in passenger numbers and revenue. This drop occurred because three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners underwent maintenance. CEO Allan Kilavuka stated the expansion plan will boost the fleet from 34 to 53 aircraft over the next five years.

For over a decade, KQ battled a string of losses. The Kenyan government intervened, bailing out the airline. Recently, the government expressed a desire to find a strategic partner for KQ. In 2024, the carrier reported its first profit in over ten years. KQ attributed this performance to a 10% capacity increase, driving a 4% traffic growth and serving 5.23 million passengers.

This planned fleet capacity increase directly aligns with the expansion strategy. It will enable KQ to broaden its network and enhance passenger service.

Henoc Dossa