Allan Kilavuka has left Kenya Airways after serving as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for a period of six years. His exit was announced by the national carrier on December 16, 2025.
“The Board of Directors of Kenya Airways Plc… announces that Mr. Allan Kilavuka will be exiting the company… following his service at the helm of the airline’s executive leadership for a period of six years,” the national carrier announced.
Following his exit, Kenya Airways has appointed Captain George Kamal as the acting Managing Director and chief executive officer. Mr. Kamal has been serving as the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO).
“Captain Kamal is a distinguished aviation executive with over 29 years of leadership experience across the Middle East and African markets. Rising from frontline operations to the C-suite, he has led the transformation of several airlines through senior executive roles,” the national carrier stated.
“He has most recently served as Operations Director at Air Arabia, and as Chief Operations & Executive Officer at Iraqi Airways.”
Captain takes the new role as a holder of a PhD in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Aviation Management.
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In his message to Kenya Airways employees, Kilavuka explained that he will be on retirement leave until his official retirement date of March 31, 2026.
“Today marks my last day of active duty… It has been an extraordinary six-year journey. I am genuinely proud and continually amazed by how much we have accomplished as one team. Together, we have transformed our airline into a resilient, respected and award-winning airline,” he said.
Kilavuka leaves the airline as the first CEO in over a decade to see the carrier return a profit, a fete that was achieved in 2024 when Kenya Airways made its first net profit of SH5.4 billion for the first time in over eleven years. In that year, KQ also recorded the highest revenue, passenger numbers and freight volumes in its history.
