Kenya Airways Countdown to New Fleet Begins

• KQ to receive six Dreamliner planes and one Boeing 777 in 2014
• Receipt of new aircraft demonstrates commitment to Project Mawingu

National Carrier Kenya Airways fleet and route expansion plan- Project Mawingu, enters a new phase next month when the airline takes delivery of the first of its six Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes expected this year.

The first 787 Dreamliner arrives on April 4th followed by its second B777-300ER in May. This will be followed by a receipt of five other of the State-of-the-Art Dreamliner planes within the course of the year, in a deliberate effort to increase the airlines capacity for long haul routes.

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Dr. Titus Naikuni, noted that the new fleet will enable the airline meet its customer expectations for more comfort and access to luxury facilities, while increasing the number of direct flights and frequencies to new and existing major destinations.

"We are pleased to be using Dreamliner for our expansion plans, which will be both more environmentally friendly and more economic as we embrace the benefits of its design. The delivery of these exciting aircraft opens a new chapter and a very exciting time for the airline," said Dr. Naikuni.

He added, "Long haul routes to Paris, Amsterdam and Beijing are among the destinations earmarked for direct flights, as we continue exploring new markets that will be instrumental in helping us achieve our objective, to contribute towards the sustainable development of Africa".

The delivery of the new set of aircrafts demonstrates commitment by the airline to its 10 year growth strategy "Project Mawingu", a huge investment in new aircraft, smarter cabins, superb lounges and new technologies to bring a more modern, comfortable and connected experience in the air and on the ground to its customers.

"Introduction of direct flights to destinations like Paris and Amsterdam will boost key sectors of Kenya's economy such as tourism and horticulture", noted Dr. Naikuni.

Upon arrival, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and B777-300ER will be subjected to the elaborate 'entry into service' programme, which will see pilots and cabin crew training taking place at Jomo Kenyatta.

In addition to cutting-edge aesthetics, the Dreamliner also boasts of twenty per cent fuel efficiency compared to other long-distance aircrafts.