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KenyaAirways.JPG
Kenya Airways is the national airline of the Republic of Kenya in East Africa. The company was established in 1977 after the break up of East African Airways. It makes Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi its main hub. Its IATA designator is KQ. The collapse of East African Airways was a consequence of the breakup of the East African Community.
In 1986, Sessional Paper Number 1 was published by Kenya's government, outlining the country's need for economic development and growth. The document stressed the government opinion that the airline would be better off if owned by private interests, thus resulting in the first attempt to privatize the airline.
The government named Mr. Philip Ndegwa as Chairman of the Board in 1991, with specific orders to privatize the airline. He heads a renewed company cabinet.
In 1992, the Public Enterprise Reform paper was published, giving Kenya Airways priority among national companies in Kenya to be privatized.
In the fiscal year 1993 to 1994, the airline produced its first profit since the start of commercialization.
Also in 1994, the International Finance Corporation, IFC, was appointed to provide assistance in the privatization process.
In 1995, Kenya Airways went through some important financial processes, including the restructuring of its debts and a master corporation agreement with KLM. The Dutch carrier owns over 20% of KQ which shares KLM's frequent flyer program.
In 1996, shares were floated to the public, and the airline started trading on the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
On January 31, 2000 the airline suffered its first fatal accident when an Airbus A310 crashed after takeoff from Abidjian, Côte d'Ivoire, killing 169 of the 179 people aboard.
The airline's chief executive officer, Titus Naikuni, says KQ has completed the first phase of its 10-year fleet renewal programme, expected to end in 2004.
The new Boeing 777-200, with a capacity of 320 passengers, is the airline's flagship for long-haul destinations, serving routes to Europe and Asia.
Last year, KQ took delivery of three Boeing 767-300 Extended Range 221-seater aircraft fashioned on the award winning Boeing 777 design, and acquired two Boeing 737-700 jets with blended winglets. Another two B767-300 were leased in February and March from GECAS and the Airbus A310 fleet retired.
The new acquisitions raised KQ's fleet to 15 aircraft: two 35-seater Saab 340B used by domestic flight operator and KQ subsidiary Flamingo Airlines, four Boeing 737-300 and two Boeing 737-200s that serve regional and intra-Africa routes, two Boeing 737-700 serving on long-range African routes. One Boeing 777-200ER and six Boeing 767-300ER for international routes.
After KLM's entry into SkyTeam alliance Kenya Airways is expected to follow suit as well.
Kenya Airways Website: http://www.kenya-airways.com (http://www.kenya-airways.com)
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