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Kenya Airways (KQ) is preparing to bring back a Boeing 777 aircraft currently on sub-lease to Turkish Airlines as part of its plan to expand network capacity and support its recovery strategy.
In an interview with AeroTimes, KQ Acting Group Managing Director George Kamal said the airline is in advanced talks to recall the wide-body plane, which will be deployed on high-demand long-haul routes, particularly the Nairobi–London route.
The initiative comes as the carrier enters a growth phase after returning to profitability in 2024, posting a net profit of Sh5.4 billion following more than a decade of losses.
Kamal, however, pointed out that aircraft availability remains constrained due to global supply chain disruptions affecting maintenance schedules, which have grounded parts of the Dreamliner fleet.
Bringing back the Boeing 777 is expected to ease immediate capacity pressures, strengthen operational resilience, and better serve premium and high-yield markets. KQ is also considering leasing another wide-body aircraft to support future expansion into Asia or North America.
In addition to wide-body plans, the airline is reviewing its regional narrow-body fleet, with intentions to gradually replace Embraer E190 jets with larger Boeing 737s to address payload and baggage limitations on African routes.
These fleet adjustments are part of KQ’s broader turnaround and growth strategy, which includes raising up to Sh64 billion to fund fleet expansion, new routes, and increased cargo capacity over the medium term.
