Kenya Airways' Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at JKIA, Nairobi. KQ expects Boeing to deliver its first four Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes starting March to replace an ageing fleet. Photo/FILE
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The national carrier has tapped Gerard Clarke to replace Mohan Chandra, who opted not to renew his contract in a period that saw KQ record its largest drop in revenues.
Mr Clarke joined Kenya Airways from Hong Kong Airlines where he was the managing director for their United Kingdom and Europe route.
Kenya Airways has filled the position of commercial director that fell vacant in 2013 as the carrier looks to expand to new markets.
The national carrier has tapped Gerard Clarke to replace Mohan Chandra, who opted not to renew his contract in a period that saw KQ record its largest drop in revenues.
Mr Clarke joined Kenya Airways from Hong Kong Airlines where he was the managing director for their United Kingdom and Europe route.
“Mr Clarke’s career in the international airline industry spans more than 25 years and he possesses expertise in all major airline business models,” said KQ in a notice posted on its website.
The position is crucial for the airline as its main responsibility is to sell, with the primary focus of generating revenue and ensuring network optimisation.
Jimmy Kibati, the airline’s head of network planning, had been acting in the position as the carrier hunted for a substantive replacement for Mr Chandra.
KQ swung into profits in the six months to September with earnings of Sh384 million from a loss of Sh4.78 billion in a similar period a year earlier on increased sales and lower costs.
The carrier expects to post higher profits next year, thanks to the planned delivery of fuel-efficient planes, the expansion of its Nairobi hub and entry into new routes. KQ expects Boeing to deliver its first four Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes starting March to replace an ageing fleet of B-767s.
The new planes will offer 20 per cent more fuel efficiency.
Another bottleneck would be removed in March when the government completes building a fourth terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
The carrier has been blaming lack of capacity at the airport for delays in expanding its operations.
Built in the 1970s to handle 2.5 million passengers a year, the airport has been struggling to cope with more than six million passengers every year as its regional importance grows.
Mr Clarke will be tasked with growing sales in the planned new routes and KQ’s existing operations.
The airline’s revenues rose to Sh54.34 billion in the half from Sh49.8 billion helped by a favourable exchange rate since passenger numbers remained little changed.
The airline is searching for a new CEO in time for the retirement of Titus Naikuni this year.
The national carrier announced it has extended Mr Naikuni’s contract by a year till the end of 2014 to ensure continuity during a critical expansion period. Mr Naikuni, 60, has been at the helm of the airline since 2003 .
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