Kenya Airways boosts China services, with new Etihad codeshare, but has political and economic risks

Kenya Airways will boost capacity to China and switch its Nairobi-Bangkok-Hong Kong service to instead transit via Dubai from Apr-2013 as the airline seeks to take advantage of growing Chinese interest in Africa's economic growth prospects.

The airline's overall Nairobi-Dubai frequency will increase from daily to 10 times weekly. The carrier will also add three weekly frequencies on its Nairobi-Bangkok-Guangzhou service moving to a daily service.

Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni said China has been looking for economic opportunities in Africa and the daily service will facilitate movement of traders and goods between these regions, noting: "This daily service will contribute towards sustainable development in Africa by linking it to the rest of the world".

This, combined with an extensive codeshare agreement with Etihad, means Kenya Airways is well positioned to advance its 10 year growth plan and position Nairobi as the Eastern African hub over Addis Ababa, particularly addressing China as well as Indian markets.