In this post, we will analyze the current Kenya Airways fleet and its position relative to other airlines. In 2024, Kenya boasts 64 operational airlines with a total of 177 registered aircraft, notably led by the national carrier, Kenya Airways.
Established on January 22, 1977, Kenya Airways commenced operations shortly after its separation from East Africa Airlines. The airline’s subsidiaries include Jambojet, focusing primarily on domestic and regional travel, while Flamingo Airlines, formerly part of its portfolio, is currently bygone, leaving Jambojet as the sole subsidiary in operation.
Kenya Airways Fleet 2024
KQ in 2024 boasts 33 crafts in fleet with 29 operational and 4 parked.
Historically, Kenya Airways has had a total of 100 different crafts registered to it at some point, however, two have crashed, and the rest either retired or sold
| Registration | Aircraft Type | Config | Delivered | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5Y-KYP | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Dec 2010 | 13.4 Years |
| 5Y-KYQ | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | May 2011 | 12.9 Years |
| 5Y-KYS | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Sep 2011 | 12.5 Years |
| 5Y-KYT | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | May 2012 | 11.9 Years |
| 5Y-FFJ | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Aug 2013 | 10.6 Years |
| 5Y-FFG | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Feb 2013 | 11.2 Years |
| 5Y-FFE | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Dec 2012 | 11.4 Years |
| 5Y-FFD | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Nov 2012 | 11.4 Years |
| 5Y-FFC | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Oct 2012 | 11.5 Years |
| 5Y-FFB | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Sep 2012 | 11.6 Years |
| 5Y-FFA | Embraer ERJ-190 | C12Y84 | Aug 2012 | 11.7 Years |
| 5Y-KZG | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Apr 2015 | 9 Years |
| 5Y-KZA | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Mar 2014 | 10.1 Years |
| 5Y-KZC | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Jul 2014 | 9.7 Years |
| 5Y-KZD | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Aug 2014 | 9.7 Years |
| 5Y-KZE | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Sep 2014 | 9.6 Years |
| 5Y-KZF | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Oct 2014 | 9.6 Years |
| 5Y-KZB | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Jun 2014 | 9.8 Years |
| 5Y-KZJ | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Jun 2019 | 8.8 Years |
| 5Y-KZH | Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | C30Y204 | Oct 2018 | 8.8 Years |
| 5Y-CYE | Boeing 737-800 | C16Y129 | Nov 2015 | 8.4 Years |
| 5Y-CYC | Boeing 737-800 | C16Y129 | Jan 2015 | 9.2 Years |
| 5Y-CYB | Boeing 737-800 | C16Y129 | Nov 2014 | 9.4 Years |
| 5Y-CYA | Boeing 737-800 | C16Y129 | Oct 2014 | 9.5 Years |
| 5Y-KCA | Boeing 737-800(F) | Cargo | 21 Years |
KQ Plane Acquisition History
To understand Kenya Airways’ fleet in 2024, it’s critical to trace back its plane acquisition history. Established in 1977, Kenya Airways, the flag carrier of Kenya, began its operations with a modest fleet primarily consisting of several aircrafts
| Registration | Aircraft Make and Model | Delivery Year to KQ |
|---|---|---|
| TF-VLC | Boeing 720 | 1977 |
| EI-ASI | Boeing 747-100 | 1979 |
| 5Y-BBX | Boeing 720 | 1978 |
| PH-BUB | Boeing 747-200 | 1982 |
| PH-BUA | Boeing 747-200 | 1983 |
| D-AICM | Airbus A310-200 | 1985 |
| 5Y-BEL | Airbus A310-300 | 1986 |
| 5Y-BEN | Airbus A310-300 | 1986 |
| 5Y-BFT | Airbus A310-300 | 1989 |
| 5Y-BGI | Boeing 757-200 | 1989 |
| SE-DLG | Boeing 737-300 | 1991 |
| 5Y-BHV | Boeing 737-200 | 1991 |
| 5Y-BHW | Boeing 737-200 | 1991 |
| 5Y-KQL | Airbus A310-300 | 1999 |
| 5Y-KQM | Airbus A310-300 | 2000 |
| 5Y-KQK | Boeing 737-200 | 1998 |
| 5Y-KQJ | Boeing 737-200 | 1998 |
| 5Y-KQN | Boeing 737-200C | 2003 |
| 5Y-KQE | Boeing 737-700 | 2001 |
| 5Y-KQF | Boeing 737-700 | 2002 |
| 5Y-KQG | Boeing 737-700 | 2002 |
| 5Y-KQH | Boeing 737-700 | 2003 |
| 5Y-RAB | Boeing 737-300 | 2002 |
| 5Y-KQW | Boeing 767-300 | 2002 |
| 5Y-KQA | Boeing 737-300 | 2006 |
| 5Y-KYC | Boeing 737-800 | 2006 |
| 5Y-KYB | Boeing 737-800 | 2006 |
| 5Y-KYA | Boeing 737-800 | 2006 |
| 5Y-KQQ | Boeing 767-300 | 2006 |
| 5Y-KQP | Boeing 767-300 | 2005 |
| 5Y-KQU | Boeing 777-200 | 2004 |
| 5Y-KQT | Boeing 777-200 | 2005 |
| 5Y-KQX | Boeing 767-300 | 2001 |
| 5Y-KQY | Boeing 767-300 | 2001 |
| 5Y-KQZ | Boeing 767-300 | 2001 |
Average Fleet Age
The fleet of Kenya Airways has a range of ages, with the oldest aircraft in operation being 26 years old, while the youngest is 8 years old. The majority of the fleet falls within the 9 to 15-year-old bracket. Historically, the average age of Kenya Airways’ fleet has been around 12 years.
In comparison to the global average fleet age for airlines in 2023, which typically falls between 10 and 12 years, Kenya Airways sits towards the higher end of this spectrum. Notably, it trails behind Ethiopian Airlines, which boasts an impressive average fleet age of 8.1 years.
The relatively older aircraft in Kenya Airways’ fleet are associated with lower efficiency and offer diminished passenger comfort when compared to newer counterparts. This highlights the importance of fleet modernization and the potential benefits of introducing newer, more advanced aircraft models into the airline’s operations.
Why is the Majority of the KQ Crafts from Boeing?
The majority of Kenya Airways’ fleet comprises Boeing aircraft and a small number of Embraers, a trend that can be traced back to the airline’s early days.
Despite having owned various aircraft from different manufacturers over the years, including Airbus, Fokker, Saab AB, McDonnell Douglas, and Embraer, the current fleet predominantly consists of Boeing and Embraer models.
This preference for Boeing aircraft can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Kenya Airways has nurtured a longstanding relationship with Boeing since its inception. The reliability, performance, and familiarity associated with Boeing planes have solidified their place within the airline’s operations.
Kenya Airways had a fallout with Airbus following the Flight 431 crash in the year 2000 that resulted to blame game and pointing fingers between KQ and Airbus, that eventually resulted to retirement of all Airbus A310s remaining.
Additionally, standardizing the fleet around Boeing models offers numerous advantages. It streamlines maintenance, training, and operational procedures, leading to cost efficiencies and enhanced reliability. By maintaining consistency in the fleet, Kenya Airways can optimize its resources and ensure seamless operations across its network.
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