Kenya Airways has provided insight into how it determines the aircraft deployed on key international routes, including London, New York, Paris and Amsterdam, saying the decisions are guided by data rather than permanent aircraft assignments.
The national carrier says it continuously evaluates passenger demand, seasonal travel trends and route performance to determine the most suitable aircraft for each destination.
Speaking in a recent media interview shared by the airline on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Acting Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer George Kamal said data analysis plays a central role in decisions concerning the airline’s network.
“We are using data-driven insights to determine which routes are viable and which aircraft are best suited to serve them, ensuring we make informed decisions for our network and our customers,” Kamal said.
He explained that aircraft are not permanently tied to particular destinations. Instead, Kenya Airways reallocates them across its network as demand changes, particularly during and after peak travel periods.
“For example, you are operating today the 777-2 to London, but tomorrow, or after the peak season ends, you might transfer it to a different route,” Kamal said.
The strategy allows the airline to adjust capacity according to changing passenger numbers and route performance.
A larger aircraft can, for instance, be deployed on a route experiencing strong demand, while capacity can be shifted elsewhere when demand falls.
Kenya Airways operates a mixed fleet comprising aircraft suited to different markets. Its long-haul operations are primarily supported by wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 777s, while regional services are operated using Boeing 737s and Embraer E190 aircraft.
The disclosure comes as the airline faces continued financial pressure, with its net loss widening to Sh16.08 billion in the first six months of the current financial year.
The loss represented an increase of about Sh3.9 billion from the Sh12.2 billion loss recorded in the corresponding half-year period in 2025.
Kenya Airways’ operating loss also deteriorated during the period, rising to Sh10.64 billion from Sh6.24 billion previously.
Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and restructuring (EBITDAR) margin, a measure of underlying operational performance and profitability, fell to 8.4 per cent from 10.5 per cent.
The carrier attributed much of the weaker performance to rising operating expenses. Costs increased by 13.8 per cent to Sh91.9 billion, significantly outpacing the 9.1 per cent growth in revenue, which reached Sh81.3 billion.
The airline said revenue growth remained positive despite reduced capacity, but the faster increase in costs continued to weigh on its financial performance.
Cargo was among the areas that recorded stronger growth, with cargo revenue increasing by 17.5 per cent to Sh8.77 billion during the period.
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