KQ receives fifth Boeing 787 Dreamliner

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 24 – Kenya Airways on Wednesday received its fifth B787 Dreamliner aircraft, further enhancing its capacity to operate inter-continental flights.

The modern aircraft with state-of-the-art features, whose capacity is 234 passengers, touched down at the airline’s hub at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi at 1000hrs.

Outgoing KQ Group Managing Director Titus Naikuni said that besides enhancing customer experience, the aircraft has lower maintenance costs and high fuel efficiency.

“We are delighted to add yet another Dreamliner to our fleet. This modern aircraft is a big boost to our long haul capability and will replace the B767, which is our current workhorse,” he said.

The new B787 Dreamliner joins four other such aircraft that are already on Kenya Airways’ fleet.

The four aircraft have already commenced commercial service, flying to Paris in France, Guangzhou in China, Bangkok in Thailand, Entebbe in Uganda, and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Mombasa.

“The Dreamliner is our flagship aircraft and a key addition to our fleet under our ongoing fleet renewal programme. It will ultimately contribute towards reducing the average age of our fleet from the current 6.7 years to 4.9 years by April 2016,” he said.

Delivery of the B787 Dreamliner brings to 38 the airline’s total number of aircraft in active operations.

This includes three B777-300ER aircraft, two of which were delivered this year.

Kenya Airways expects one more new B787 Dreamliners to join its fleet this year with an additional three such aircraft being delivered next year.

Mbuvi Ngunze is expected to take over management at the national carrier on November 1, 2014.