Kenya Airways Pursues Secondary Hub Strategy Within Africa

LISBON, Portugal—Kenya Airways is eyeing the launch of secondary hubs within the African continent, with Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport in Accra as a first example.

Three of the carrier’s Embraer E190-E1s could be based at Kotoka, Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka told Aviation Week on the sidelines of the CAPA Airline Leadership Summit World event in Lisbon Dec. 12.

“We are working on a secondary hub in Ghana,” Kilavuka said. “Then we could operate within the West African area.”

Discussions are ongoing regarding operating an airline in conjunction with Ghana’s government, Kilavuka said. Depending on a possible agreement with the government, flights could be operated as Kenya Airways or under a different brand.

“The project will be decided next year,” the CEO added. “We are planning to base three Embraer aircraft [in Accra]. But this would be just the beginning.”

Kenya Airways is studying similar projects in other parts of Africa as well. He says this is a different plan than, for example, what Ethiopian Airlines has implemented, such as its launch of ASKY in Lomé, Togo, in 2010.

“What we want is to collaborate more with African carriers, to have a lot of mini hubs. It is not necessary to open our own companies,” Kilavuka added. “But with existing carriers, this is what we want to do, to build a stronger network.”

“Kenya Airways will replace most of the regional flights with Boeing 737s but keep a small number of Embraer E190-E1s,” Kilavuka added. “We expect three 737 MAX aircraft deliveries in the first quarter of next year via a lessor, and then we will get some 737NGs for the second half of next year.”

Kenya Airways is planning on keeping four E1s. Asked if Embraer E2s could also be part of a future fleet, Kilavuka said, “In the meantime we are looking for 737s, but who knows?”