- Kenya Airways proposes to convert some of the high capacity planes to freighters
- KQ has started discussions with leasing firms for the early return of a number of aircraft as the carrier is flying to fewer destinations
In order to cut costs amid a drop in passenger numbers due to Covid-19, Kenya Airways proposes to convert some of the high capacity planes to freighters. Towards this end, KQ has started discussions with leasing firms for the early return of a number of aircraft. The carrier is flying to fewer destinations currently. With lower demand, it is flying to fewer destinations at fewer frequencies and needs to fly smaller fleets.
The company’s chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka revealed at an investors meeting that negotiations are also on to remove seats in some of the Dreamliner aircraft and convert them into freighters or cargo planes. Such a move will facilitate using its Boeing 787 aircraft for long haul cargo services between Africa and other continents. Negotiations if successful will help KQ to save expenses on maintaining aircrafts and lesser lease charges.
Kenya Airways suspended its operations in March due to the coronavirus. The carrier resumed international flights early last month with scaling down its services to about 30 destinations as against 56 prior to Pandemic. The airlines revealed that on average it is currently flying on 37 per cent of the carrier’s seat capacity.
