Kenya Airways (KQ) Acting Chief Executive Officer George Kamal has revealed that the national carrier is targeting a significant expansion in Africa’s cargo market as it battles losses caused by grounded aircraft and costly engine overhauls.
Speaking during an engagement with local and international journalists and content creators at the Aviation Media Lab on Friday, May 29, Kamal said KQ plans to grow its African market share from the current 3 per cent to as high as 15 per cent through fleet expansion and cargo growth.
“Currently, Kenya Airways is doing 3% of African market share. We are looking to go for up to 15% of African market share, and this is what we are going for,” Kamal stated.
As part of the strategy, KQ is seeking to acquire additional Boeing 777 and 767 aircraft while targeting 250 tonnes in cargo capacity by the end of the year.
Kamal noted that cargo has become one of the airline’s most important revenue streams at a time when passenger profits remain extremely low.
“There is a big potential, but we're still making losses. Remember, how do I send a cargo today? If you come to Kenya Airways and you want to transport cargo to London, if you try, we will accept the cargo and we will take it to London,” he explained.
“We don't have a long range aircraft that can fly to London, but we have the passenger aircraft where I can use the undercarriage of it.”
Despite the expansion ambitions, Kamal admitted the airline is still under financial pressure due to aircraft groundings, maintenance expenses, and soaring operational costs.
“So 2025 was the third highest revenue, and I'm repeating the revenue, not the profit, the third highest revenue in the history of Kenya Airways,” he revealed.
According to Kamal, 2024 recorded the highest revenue in KQ’s history, followed by 2023 and then 2025.
“2024 was number one was the highest revenue for Kenya Airways ever. Number two was 2023,” he said.
“Despite having those highest revenues, your cost is increasing, it is significantly high because you have aircraft grounded.”
The airline currently has an estimated 11 aircraft out of operation, including some undergoing maintenance and others grounded while awaiting engines.
Kamal explained that grounded planes continue attracting major expenses regardless of whether they are flying or not.
“Each aircraft grounded is a cost. You have an aircraft which is leased, you have an aircraft, which is owned, either leased or owned, it doesn't matter, it's there waiting for engines to come,” he stated.
“So the issue with the aircraft, where it's grounded, you still pay, you still pay manpower, you still pay staff, because it's coming back.”
He further linked the current engineering shortages in the aviation sector to layoffs carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If you fire these staff, and you do remember the COVID, when they released the staff, the problem we are in today is because people from the manufacture, the OEM release the staff, released the engineers, they cannot find them anymore,” Kamal explained.
The KQ boss also disclosed that engine overhaul costs currently range between $13 million and $15 million (up to Ksh1.9 billion) per engine, making maintenance one of the airline’s biggest financial burdens.
Kamal added that grounded aircraft continue accumulating insurance, parking, and maintenance costs even while inactive.
“Remember, you will still pay; regarding this aircraft, you will still pay insurance, you will still pay maintenance, because even if the aircraft is grounded, you have to pay maintenance, parking for those aircraft,” he said.
KQ now says restoring grounded aircraft, controlling operational expenses, and expanding cargo operations will be central to its strategy to return to profitability and strengthen its position in Africa’s aviation industry.
