Airline profile · Africa

Kenya Airways

KenyaFull-service carrierSkyTeam memberSince 1977

KQIATA code
KQAICAO code

Kenya Airways is the national airline of Kenya, a full-service carrier established in 1977 and based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. It flies to 41 destinations, 35 of them in Africa, as of 2026. Kenya Airways is a SkyTeam member and runs the Asante Rewards loyalty programme.

Founded
1977
Headquarters
Nairobi, Kenya
Country
Kenya
Main hubs
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi
Airline type
Full-service carrier
Alliance
SkyTeam
Loyalty
Asante Rewards
Ownership
At 31 December 2025 the largest shareholders were the Cabinet Secretary to Kenya's National Treasury (48.90%), KQ Lenders Company 2017 Limited (37.91%) and KLM (7.76%), per the airline's 2025 annual report.
Callsign
KENYA
Website
kenya-airways.com

How travel agents book Kenya Airways

GDS distribution

Kenya Airways content is distributed through the GDSs. It signed a full content agreement with Travelport in 2010. In September 2026 it selected Sabre to replace its passenger service system, covering reservations, ticketing, inventory and check-in.

NDC

Kenya Airways has implemented the IATA NDC standard and says its NDC API is IATA certified. Agencies can access KQ NDC content through its NDC agent portal, through Verteil (its first NDC aggregator) or, for large agencies and OTAs, through a direct NDC API connection.

Direct channels

The KQ NDC agent portal is open to IATA agencies with Kenya Airways ticketing authority in BSP or ARC, and to non-IATA agencies with a TIDS code and access to KQ ticket stock, after an online registration and e-contract.

Notes for travel agents

Kenya Airways says login credentials for its NDC agent portal arrive in about one working day after the e-contract is signed. Direct NDC API connections are reserved for agencies with significant KQ volumes and are requested through ndc@kenya-airways.com.

On ReservationHub

ReservationHub gives agencies GDS content from Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport plus NDC and low-cost channels in one platform. See the full list on our integrations page.

History of Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways was established in January 1977, after the break-up of the East African Community ended the jointly owned East African Airways. It started as a state corporation, and in 1986 the government first set out its intention to sell stakes in businesses the private sector could run better.

Privatisation followed in the mid-1990s. KLM was chosen as strategic partner in 1995, with shareholder and cooperation agreements signed that December, and an initial public offering in 1996. The airline joined SkyTeam as an associate in 2007 and became a full member in 2010.

Kenya Airways took its first Boeing 777-300ER in 2013 and its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2014, and began non-stop flights to New York after US approval in 2018. A 2017 debt and equity restructuring brought in KQ Lenders Company 2017 Limited, now the second-largest shareholder after the Kenyan government.

The airline launched its Asante Rewards loyalty programme in 2023. In 2025 its results were hit by grounded wide-body aircraft and supply chain problems, and the group is pursuing a capital raise with government support. In September 2026 it chose Sabre to replace its reservations, ticketing and check-in platform.

Milestones

  1. 1977Established in January after East African Airways is disbanded.
  2. 1996Privatised with KLM as strategic partner and an initial public offering.
  3. 2007Joins SkyTeam as an associate airline.
  4. 2010Becomes a full SkyTeam member; signs a full content agreement with Travelport.
  5. 2014Receives its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
  6. 2017Completes a debt and equity restructuring.
  7. 2023Launches the Asante Rewards loyalty programme.
  8. 2026Selects Sabre for a new reservations, ticketing and check-in platform.

Fleet

Boeing 787-8 Boeing 737-800 Embraer E190 De Havilland Dash 8-400 Boeing 737-300F Boeing 737-800F

Aircraft types in service as of 2025

At 31 December 2025 the Kenya Airways group had 37 aircraft in service: seven Boeing 787-8s, nine Boeing 737s, seven Embraer 190s, four 737 freighters and ten Dash 8-400s, according to its 2025 annual report. A further two 787-8s and five E190s were grounded, and one Boeing 777-300 was leased out.

The report says groundings cut fleet availability in 2025, and the group is pursuing a capital raise partly to fund fleet recovery.

Network and hubs

Kenya Airways operates from Terminal 1A at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi. In September 2026 it described a network of 41 destinations, 35 of them in Africa, with flights to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.

The group's 2025 annual report counts 47 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America, including flights by its low-cost subsidiary Jambojet. As a SkyTeam member, Kenya Airways connects in Nairobi with partner networks such as Air France and KLM.

Kenya Airways: frequently asked questions

What are Kenya Airways' IATA and ICAO codes?

Kenya Airways uses the IATA airline code KQ and the ICAO designator KQA, with the radio callsign KENYA. IATA's code directory lists the company as Kenya Airways PLC, registered in Kenya. Tickets and flight numbers carry the KQ code.

Is Kenya Airways in SkyTeam?

Yes. Kenya Airways joined SkyTeam as an associate airline in 2007 and became a full member in 2010. Asante Rewards members can earn miles on Kenya Airways and SkyTeam flights and redeem them across the SkyTeam network, although SkyTeam notes that reciprocity may not apply on every member airline.

Does Kenya Airways have NDC?

Yes. Kenya Airways has implemented the IATA NDC standard and offers three access routes for agencies: its own NDC agent portal, the Verteil NDC aggregator, and a direct NDC API connection for large agencies and OTAs. It says it was the first airline to introduce NDC at scale in Africa.

Who owns Kenya Airways?

Kenya Airways is a listed company. At the end of 2025 the Kenyan government, through the Cabinet Secretary to the National Treasury, held 48.90% of the shares, KQ Lenders Company 2017 Limited held 37.91% and KLM held 7.76%, according to the airline's 2025 annual report.

What is Kenya Airways' hub?

Kenya Airways' hub is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, where it operates from Terminal 1A. Most international journeys on the airline connect in Nairobi, linking East Africa with the rest of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.

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Sources

  1. Kenya Airways — Our history
  2. Kenya Airways — Annual Report 2025
  3. Kenya Airways — NDC trade portal
  4. Kenya Airways — Kenya Airways partners with Sabre (September 2026)
  5. Kenya Airways — Official website
  6. SkyTeam — Kenya Airways
  7. CAPA — Kenya Airways airline profile
  8. IATA — Airline and location code search
  9. FAA — JO 7340.2N Contractions (ICAO three-letter designators and telephony)

Profile updated by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.