There are good days, and then there are days that feel like 2026 has so far...one L after another. Thankfully, this wasn't one of them.
It all started with a random phone call. A few hours later, I found myself heading to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for something I hadn't done in about 12 years: flying with Kenya Airways.
KQ had invited a group of journalists, bloggers and digital creators on an experience flight from Nairobi to Mombasa aboard its Boeing 777-300ER, an aircraft making its long-awaited return to the airline's fleet after more than a decade. I had expected to simply cover its comeback from the ground, so the chance to actually fly on it was an unexpected bonus.
A little background first. Kenya Airways received its Boeing 777-300ERs between October 2013 and July 2014 under Project Mawingu, the airline's ambitious fleet expansion programme at the time. But financial headwinds forced KQ to lease the aircraft to Turkish Airlines, where it remained until this year. By the time they were phased out, KQ had three of them, and one has returned so far (the prodigal son).
With international travel picking up again, the airline finally brought it home. At full capacity, the aircraft can carry around 400 passengers, making it the biggest plane in the KQ fleet.
So on Wednesday, July 15, I made my way to JKIA for an afternoon trip to Mombasa and back aboard this giant...call it a 'date' if you may.
Getting to the airport wasn't exactly fun. Traffic along Mombasa Road was crawling, thanks to the usual mix of airport traffic and vehicles heading towards Mlolongo and beyond. Once inside JKIA, though, everything felt familiar. I've spent so much time at the airport over the last two years covering aviation that walking through the terminal almost felt routine.
The excitement around this flight was impossible to miss. After our exclusive revealing that Kenya Airways had slashed Nairobi-Mombasa fares by almost half to mark the aircraft's return, demand shot up.
The promotion generated huge interest, although it also came with reports from some passengers who said they had been moved to other aircraft before the 777 officially settled into service. By the time of our flight, however, operations appeared to be running smoothly.
I already knew my way around the domestic terminal, having flown the route during the Aviation Media Lab just a few weeks earlier. What caught me off guard were the queues. Security, check-in, boarding...everywhere was packed. The hype around this aircraft was clearly real.
After finally making it through security, we joined hundreds of other passengers waiting to board. Since the aircraft was parked away from the terminal, buses ferried us across the apron.
The first thing that hit me when I stepped inside was the size of the cabin. Photos don't quite prepare you for just how massive the 777-300ER feels; not even the best luxury inter-county buses in Kenya can prepare you for this. Walking down the aisle, it felt less like boarding a plane and more like stepping into a premium coach, only with the unmistakable warmth of Kenya Airways' hospitality.
I was assigned a middle seat, which, if you know me, is probably my least favourite place to sit on any aircraft. But that disappointment faded pretty quickly.
The cabin looked spotless. Considering the videos that circulated online after the aircraft first arrived back in Kenya, I had expected to notice a few worn areas. Instead, the seats were clean, comfortable and in much better condition than social media had suggested.
The only thing that didn't work at my seat was the entertainment screen. On a 45-minute flight, it wasn't a deal-breaker, although it would have been nice to follow the safety demonstration on screen or browse some entertainment. The USB charging ports, however, worked perfectly, and I noticed quite a number of passengers taking advantage of them.
Shortly after 4pm, we pushed back and taxied for departure. One thing stood out almost immediately during take-off: how quiet the aircraft was. Powered by two General Electric GE90-115B engines, the Boeing 777-300ER lifted off with surprisingly little drama from where I was seated. Compared to the last passenger aircraft I flew, the climb felt smoother and noticeably quieter.
Once we reached cruising altitude of around 35,000 feet, I took the opportunity to check out the washrooms. They were clean, well maintained and even had hot water, something you don't always expect.
Service began soon after. For such a short flight, the snack selection was more than enough. We were served mixed nuts alongside a choice of juice, water or coffee. Naturally, I went for the coffee.
The cabin crew worked efficiently despite the short flight time, and you could tell they were under pressure to complete service before we started descending into Mombasa.
The landing at Moi International Airport was smooth. However, we barely had enough time on the ground before turning around for the return flight. Because we had left Nairobi behind schedule, everything in Mombasa felt like a race against the clock. Check-in, security and boarding all happened at speed.
Even so, there was enough time for journalists and content creators to grab photos of the aircraft. Moments like this don't come around often, and everyone wanted something to remember the day by.
For the return journey, I managed to swap into a window seat. There's just something about sitting by the window that never gets old. However, this change came with a slight consequence on my end; being closer to the sound of the engines at full thrust.
Somewhere along the journey back, I caught a beautiful view of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds. As evening approached, the cabin lighting gradually shifted colours, giving passengers a glimpse of the ambience travellers on the aircraft's long-haul routes will experience.
Back in Nairobi, the familiar traffic on Mombasa Road greeted us from above before we touched down at JKIA.
On both flights, I deliberately exited through the front door so I could have a closer look at the premium cabins. Curiosity got the better of me.
I asked one of the cabin crew members about the online discussion surrounding the condition of the seats when the aircraft first returned.
They explained that the seats are cleaned before every flight and follow a similar configuration to those on Kenya Airways' Boeing 787 fleet. While acknowledging there are plans to refresh the seat covers in future, they noted that such upgrades come with a significant cost.
As I walked away from the aircraft one last time that evening, I couldn't help but pause for one final look.
Flying on a widebody passenger aircraft had been sitting on my bucket list for years, and finally ticking it off aboard KQ's returning Boeing 777-300ER made the day feel even more special.
This wasn't just another media event. It was a genuinely enjoyable experience, one that reminded me why aviation continues to fascinate me.
Knowing I'd soon be back in front of the same aircraft for its official London launch made it feel less like the end of the journey and more like the beginning of another. Not that I flew with it after that, but I can't wait to experience it again...on an actual international flight.
