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Kenya Airways is looking to add 10 more aircraft and replace 13 Embraer E190s over the coming five years, in a fleet revamp which could see a switch in allegiance from Boeing to Airbus.
The Nairobi-based carrier operates 13 E190s, eight Boeing 737-800s, nine 787-8s, as well as a cargo fleet of two 737-300SFs and two 737-800SFs. Kenya Airways also has a single 777-300 placed with Turkish Airlines, which may be returned in 2026.
Speaking to Aviation Week at APG World Connect in Malta, Kenya Airways Group CEO Allan Kilavuka said he is seeking seven narrowbodies and three long-haul aircraft under the airline’s five-year strategy. He also wants to replace the 13 E190s with medium-sized narrowbodies.
“We want to remove the Embraers from our fleet,” Kilavuka said. “The main reason we want to do that is because Embraers are good ‘route-openers,’ but once a route has matured, you need a bigger size aircraft, especially for our continent which has a lot of baggage.” Kenya Airways has already committed to three leased 737-800s, which are scheduled to join the fleet in 2025. Kilavuka’s team was also evaluating one specific 787, but they decided not to take the aircraft after a technical check.
Kilavuka believes taking 787-8s was “a mistake” for Kenya Airways; 787-9s would have been a better fit, he said. However, the supply of 787-9s is limited, so he is considering 777-200s and -300s for the widebody fleet growth instead.
Beyond the three committed 737-800s, types under evaluation include Airbus A320ceos/neos, 737NGs/MAXs, A350s and 787s. This could potentially take the form of a new aircraft order.
Cutting over to Airbus would be a more radical option. “If we had to go for the A350, we would go the whole hog. We’d go A350, A320,” Kilavuka said. “Right now, I’m in discussions with Airbus about what kind of support they can give me if I’m to change the fleet.”
When asked if this was a negotiating position or a genuine strategic option, Kilavuka said that it is genuine, “especially with the trouble that we’re seeing Boeing going through right now.”
He added that the “ideal situation” would be to replace the 13 Embraers with Airbus aircraft. If the airline did go with Airbus, A220s are unlikely to replace the E190s, because Kilavuka is concerned about engine issues. Upgrading the 13 E195s to A320s or 737s, on a one-for-one basis, is more likely.
Any fleet change would require government support and a new equity partner. “We just have a lot of constraints of availability of aircraft, and in this case, availability of funding,” he said.
