Kenya Airways has unveiled plans to more than triple its fleet over the next decade, announcing an ambitious expansion strategy that will see the national carrier grow from 32 aircraft today to 100 by 2035 as it targets a sharp increase in passenger numbers.
The airline revealed the roadmap during the Kenya Travel Agents Engagement & Awards 2026 in Nairobi on Wednesday, July 29, where it also recognised its best-performing travel agency partners, who currently account for about 60 per cent of its passenger revenue.
Under the plan, Kenya Airways will expand its fleet to 67 aircraft by 2030 before reaching 100 aircraft five years later. The growth is expected to support an increase in annual passenger traffic from the current 5.2 million to nine million by 2035.
The announcement marks Kenya Airways' boldest fleet expansion strategy in more than a decade as the airline seeks to strengthen its position in Africa while expanding its footprint on long-haul international routes.
The expansion comes as Kenya Airways continues rebuilding its operations following years of restructuring and fleet optimisation. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 32 aircraft comprising Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Boeing 737-800s, Embraer E190 regional jets and Boeing 737 freighters.
Earlier this month, the carrier also returned its Boeing 777 to scheduled passenger service for the first time in a decade, deploying the 400-seat aircraft on the Nairobi-London Heathrow route to boost long-haul capacity after extensive maintenance and cabin refurbishment.
Alongside fleet growth, Kenya Airways is also betting on an expanded network through codeshare and interline partnerships to increase connectivity across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas without necessarily launching every route using its own aircraft.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Captain George Kamal said travel agents would remain central to the airline's expansion plans as Kenya Airways approaches its 50th anniversary.
"As Kenya Airways approaches our 50-year milestone, our future success will continue to be built through strong relationships and shared success with the travel trade. Travel trade partners are our largest distribution channel in Kenya, contributing approximately 60 per cent of our passenger revenue, and we see our growth and yours as one journey," Kamal said.
The airline's Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu also reiterated the carrier's commitment to strengthening partnerships with travel agencies through improved distribution tools and better commercial opportunities.
"Our relationship with the travel trade is built on trust, consistency, and a shared commitment to growing the market in ways that benefit our customers, our business, and the wider economy. This event is a statement of intent that we value your contribution, and we are committed to growing with you in a way that is practical, respectful, and commercially meaningful," Thairu said.
During the ceremony, Kenya Airways recognised leading travel agencies for their 2025 performance across 35 award categories. BCD Travel Limited (Highlight Travel) emerged as the Top Revenue Contributor, ahead of Hemingways Travel and Satguru Tours & Travel Limited, while Incentive Travel Limited won the Top Travel Marketing Company by Market Share award.
The fleet expansion comes as Kenya Airways seeks to capitalise on the recovery in global air travel and rising demand across Africa, with additional aircraft expected to support new routes, increased frequencies and greater operational flexibility over the next decade.
