National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has signed a codeshare agreement with Africa World Airlines, a West African regional airline operating out of Ghana, to expand shared reach on domestic, African and international routes.
The agreement will make it easier for KQ customers to reach Accra directly from Nairobi, as well as serve West Africa and international routes together, the two airlines said.
A codeshare is a commercial agreement between two or more airlines that allows them to sell seats on each other’s flights and expand their network.
Each airline publishes and markets a flight under its name and number as part of its schedule.
“Our combined networks will offer our customers the convenience of seamless onward connection to and from the Kenya Airways network to the Africa World Airlines network. It is imperative that we continue to connect Africa and provide our passengers with access within Africa,” said Adedayo Olawuyi, head of publicity for Africa World Airlines, in a statement.
Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said the growth of air travel in Africa depends on partnerships and collaborations opening up the continent.
“The agreement between Kenya Airways and Africa World Airlines underscores our commitment to greater connectivity and market access in the West African region and across Africa,” said Mr. Thairu.
“The future of travel will be shaped by a sustainable, connected and affordable air transport industry in Africa through partnerships and collaborations driving the growth of the African travel industry.”
The partnership comes just two weeks after KQ reached another agreement allowing Kenyans living in Minnesota to fly to Nairobi with ease.
This comes after the national carrier signed a code-share agreement with US-based JetBlue airline to allow passengers traveling to JKIA to connect via New York.
KQ sees consolidation and such partnerships as key to growing its revenues.
“The future of African aviation depends on consolidation to reduce unit costs and better connect the continent,” said KQ chief Allan Kilavuka previously.
“I think African airspace is very fragmented. We have over 300 airlines in Africa and some of them are very small and we launch new ones every day, which is the opposite of what happens on other continents,” Mr Kilavuka said during an African business forum.
Kenya Airways and South African Airways (SAA) are also aiming to establish an African airline in 2023.
The two airlines have signed a strategic partnership framework, in a move that will result in the two airlines eventually forming a pan-African airline.
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