Kenya Airways To Add 3 More Aircraft
The upcoming aircraft will contribute an additional 528 passenger seats, addressing rising demand on regional and medium-haul routes.
Marvin Chege 
Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced plans to expand its fleet with the addition of three narrow-body aircraft by the fourth quarter of 2025, in a move aimed at boosting its passenger and cargo capacity.
According to the national carrier, the upcoming aircraft will contribute an additional 528 passenger seats, addressing rising demand on regional and medium-haul routes.
The airline, in a statement on Monday, July 14, also revealed that the new planes will significantly increase its belly cargo capacity by 239 per cent, enhancing its freight operations as global demand for air cargo continues to grow.
"Plans are underway to increase our seat capacity with the addition of 3 narrow-body aircraft, which will increase our seat capacity by offering an additional 528 seats and a belly capacity increase of 239% by Q4 of 2025," KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka stated in part.
Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Allan Kilavuka speaking during the launch of Nairobi to London Gatwick flights on July 2, 2025. /KENYA AIRWAYS
The investment is part of Kenya Airways’ broader strategy to recover from recent operational challenges, including grounded long-haul aircraft due to engine maintenance issues and global supply chain disruptions. With the introduction of the narrow-body planes, the airline aims to ease pressure on its current fleet, improve route efficiency, and support its long-term growth plans.
Kenya Airways has, however, not yet disclosed the specific models of the incoming aircraft or the financial details of the acquisition. A narrow-body aircraft, also known as a single-aisle aircraft, is a type of aeroplane designed with a single aisle running down the cabin.
This design typically allows for seating configurations of four to six seats per row, depending on the airline’s layout. Narrow-body jets are generally smaller than wide-body aircraft, which have two aisles and are used for long-haul international flights.
Narrow-body planes are primarily used for short- to medium-haul routes, covering domestic flights or regional travel within continents. Their compact size makes them more fuel-efficient on these routes and allows airlines to operate more frequent flights with lower operating costs compared to larger wide-body jets.
Popular examples of narrow-body aircraft include the Boeing 737 family, the Airbus A320 series, and the Embraer E-Jets. These aircraft are commonly seen at airports around the world and are critical to the operations of both low-cost and full-service carriers due to their versatility and efficiency.
In addition to carrying passengers, narrow-body planes also offer "belly cargo" space in their lower holds, allowing airlines to transport goods alongside passengers. While their cargo capacity is more limited compared to wide-body aircraft, adding new narrow-body jets can still significantly boost an airline’s freight capabilities, especially on high-frequency regional routes.
KQ intends to invest in upgrading its existing mid-life aircraft and implementing fuel-efficiency improvements, while also expanding its cargo business, following a financial recovery in 2024, according to acting chief financial officer Mary Mwenga.
Instead of pursuing costly fleet replacements, the airline is focusing on a more financially cautious approach, Mwenga noted in a previous interview. She added that Kenya Airways will also seek more adaptable leasing agreements to better match shifts in seasonal demand.
"It’s about matching capacity to market reality," she said. "We’ve become very deliberate in how we structure our operations - the goal is agility without overexposure."
Earlier this year, KQ welcomed a Boeing 737-800 with a capacity of 170 seats, growing its fleet to 35 aircraft. Prior to that, the last time KQ expanded its fleet of passenger aircraft was 10 years ago in 2015 when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner nicknamed 'Magical Kenya', arrived at the Kenya Airways’ facilities in April 2015, new from Boeing’s facilities in Charleston, United States (US), bringing the tally of 787s on KQ's fleet currently to nine.
In a past interview with Viral Tea, Kilavuka revealed that the airline was in talks with Boeing and Airbus, two aircraft manufacturers that have dominated global aviation by aiming to outdo each other in terms of passenger aircraft, with the goal of acquiring four more planes soon.
