Embassy of Kenya, Washington, DC

Written by Wangui Maina

July 17, 2008: National flag carrier Kenya Airways is set to receive a new Embraer E170 plane it plans to deploy in regional routes.

The plane is expected to arrive next month and will serve the domestic as well as regional routes such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia.

Kenya Airways has been replacing the SAAB fleet it has been using on domestic routes with the Embraer, which has a short turnaround time and low maintenance costs.

This fleet renewal programme has been particularly critical for KQ as the airline industry grapples with rising fuel prices and increased competition in its domestic and regional markets.

“Fuel efficiency of the E170 should also enable us to better maximize revenue during these turbulent times,” the airlines chief executive Titus Naikuni said.

Greater capacity

Besides fuel efficiency, the E170 has more capacity. It can transport 72 passengers compared to SAAB’s 35. The plane to be delivered next month is one of four that the national carrier expects to receive this year.

Kenya Airways is expected to receive three new Boeing B737, one of which is a replacement for the one that crashed in Douala, Cameroon last year.

The Embraer planes are leased from General Electric Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS). E170s are manufactured in Brazil by Embraer — one of the leading aircraft manufacturers and the third largest in yearly delivery of commercial aircraft after Boeing and Airbus.

So far Kenya Airways has spent more than $1.04 billion (Sh67.6 billion) on fleet modernisation and the upgrading of the technology it uses in the ground handling of equipment to cater for its expanding business.