Kenya Airways (KQ) targets to launch direct flights to the UK’s Gatwick Airport from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) starting July 2025, as part of its strategy to expand its business in the key market.
The airline said that it will operate three-night flights a week from JKIA to Gatwick starting July 2, complementing its existing direct flight to the UK through Heathrow Airport in London.
“The flights to Gatwick will operate at night out of Nairobi, three times a week specifically on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and will complement the existing London schedule increasing the London frequency to 10 weekly flights,” the airline said.
Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex, England, 47.5 kilometres south of central London -- making it a convenient gateway for travellers from the South East and South of England.
KQ chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka said the JKIA-Gatwick direct flights will be part of the airline’s route expansion strategy to open up more opportunities in the UK market.
"The United Kingdom is essential and strategic for Kenya Airways and Kenya. It provides a gateway for trade, tourism, education, business, leisure travel, and diaspora connections. We are excited to add Gatwick Airport to our expansive network as it means that KQ guests now have more options in and out of the UK and a convenient schedule that suits their travel preferences” he said.
KQ has also been expanding its network and reach through various code-sharing agreements with various international airlines.
Code-sharing is a marketing arrangement whereby an airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline, and sells tickets for that flight.
For instance, it recently signed a new code-sharing agreement with Air France to fly passengers between Paris and Ljubljana, the capital and largest city of Slovenia. The Kenyan carrier and Air France agreed to share the route in 2019, but the deal had not been implemented.
In August 2023, KQ and Delta Air Lines expanded a codeshare partnership to offer customers more travel options between North America and Africa, adding flight options to 31 destinations in Africa and 57 cities in the US and Canada.
In December 2023, KQ also inked a deal to expand its codeshare partnership with South African Airways (SAA). The new deal includes direct flights from South Africa to South America.
