Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to replace the reservations and ticketing system that has powered its bookings, inventory management and airport check-in for more than two decades as the national carrier embarks on a major digital transformation.
The airline announced on Tuesday, September 22, that it had selected global travel technology company Sabre to replace its core reservations and ticketing platform.
Kenya Airways has also appointed travel technology and consulting firm Branchspace to develop the digital commerce layer that customers will interact with when booking and managing their journeys.
The new system is expected to introduce more personalised fares and additional travel options, easier bundling of trip components, improved mobile and digital booking services and faster airport check-in.
Passengers will also be able to access improved self-service tools, while members of the Asante Rewards programme are expected to receive an upgraded digital experience.
One of the key changes will be improved real-time rebooking during travel disruptions, allowing customers to manage changes to their journeys more easily when flights are affected.
KQ said the new Sabre platform, built on Sabre Mosaic, will become the airline's operational and commercial backbone. It will include Mosaic Offer Optimisation, which uses continuous learning and dynamic pricing to match travel offers more closely with customer demand.
Branchspace's Triplake platform will serve as the airline's primary digital customer touchpoint from the beginning of the transformation, giving KQ's commercial teams greater control over personalised offers across its booking channels.
Julius Thairu, Kenya Airways' Chief Commercial and Customer Officer (CCCO), revealed that the project would reshape the airline's technology and digital retailing capabilities.
"This is an important transformation of Kenya Airways' technology and digital retailing capabilities. The combination of digital commerce and a new PSS foundation will help us create a more flexible and personalised experience for our customers and staff, and enable a seamless transition towards the future of airline retailing," Thairu said.
The airline added that the project aligns with the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) New Distribution Capability standards and will allow it to move towards an offer-and-order model of airline retailing.
Sabre's modular technology will allow Kenya Airways to modernise its systems in stages rather than undertaking a single disruptive changeover.
Niklas Andréen, Sabre's Chief Commercial Officer for Airline Technology, said the partnership would help the airline modernise its core systems while building toward the next generation of travel retailing.
"I'm incredibly proud that Kenya Airways has chosen Sabre as its strategic technology partner as it upgrades its core systems and advances toward the next generation of travel retailing," Andréen said.
Branchspace CTO David Turton said the partnership would give KQ greater control over its commercial operations. "Technology that gives airlines control over their own commercial destiny, supported with know-how and continuous innovation to remain at the cutting edge," Turton remarked.
The project comes as Kenya Airways continues efforts to strengthen its commercial performance. The airline reported revenue of Ksh81 billion for the six months ended June 2026, representing a 9 per cent increase, but recorded a Ksh16.1 billion loss after tax during the period.
Kenya Airways said the new technology will support its broader plans to increase direct sales, grow ancillary revenue and establish a digital and commercial platform that can expand alongside its network.
The airline has not disclosed the cost of the technology transformation or provided a specific date when passengers will begin using the new system.
