Kenya Airways has introduced Safari Duty Free as its new onboard retail partner, introducing a refreshed shopping service set to launch on Sunday, November 1.
The partnership marks the beginning of a five-year agreement between the airline and Safari Duty Free, which will manage and operate Kenya Airways' inflight duty-free retail programme.
The new offering combines a mobile-friendly webstore, an expanded product catalogue and reduced prices, with products costing up to 15 per cent less than those available at airport Duty-Free shops. Customers will also receive an additional five per cent discount on all webstore products during the launch period, which runs until November 30, 2026.
Through the new Kenya Airways Duty-Free Webstore, passengers will be able to browse products, compare prices and place orders before travelling, with purchases delivered directly to their seats onboard.
Pre-orders can be made between 40 days and 72 hours before departure, allowing travellers to shop ahead of their flights rather than relying solely on purchases made at the airport or during their journey.
The product selection will include international brands, luxury products, lifestyle items, travel exclusives and curated gifts, broadening the range of shopping options available to passengers.
The service will also feature order tracking and 24-hour customer support, while cabin crew will provide personalised assistance to passengers during their flights.
Speaking during the launch event, Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said the refreshed service was part of the airline's efforts to improve the overall customer journey.
“Duty-free is an important part of the Kenya Airways customer journey. This launch reflects our commitment to continuously enhancing the travel experience by giving our customers more choice, greater convenience and better value. With Safari Duty Free, we are creating a modern retail experience that begins before take-off and continues seamlessly onboard,” Thairu said.
Safari Duty Free will oversee several aspects of the retail operation, including brand partnerships, product curation, merchandising, digital retail integration and customer experience delivery.
The arrangement brings together the airline's passenger network and Safari Duty Free's retail expertise, with the new partner expected to use Kenya Airways' reach and customer base to expand the shopping experience across the airline's network.
Safari Duty Free Managing Director Vivek Mehra said the company was pleased to partner with Kenya Airways, describing the agreement as an opportunity to strengthen the airline's inflight retail offering.
“We are proud to partner with Kenya Airways at such an exciting moment for inflight retail. By combining Safari Duty Free's specialist retail expertise with Kenya Airways' reach and customer base, we will deliver a richer, more rewarding shopping experience for travellers across the airline's network,” Mehra said.
The refreshed proposition positions duty-free shopping as an integral component of Kenya Airways' customer experience, extending the airline's retail offering beyond traditional inflight purchases through digital access and advance ordering.
The new retail platform will be accessible through the Kenya Airways Duty-Free Webstore at www.dutyfree.kenya-airways.com from November 1, 2026. The introductory five per cent discount will run until November 30, giving passengers an opportunity to access the new shopping service at reduced prices as the five-year partnership begins.
