Douglas Mwiti 
- Kenya Airways Selects Four Routes for the 2024 Global Aviation Flight Challenge 28th August 2024;
Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced its participation in the Global Sustainable Flight Challenge 2024.The challenge, an initiative by SkyTeam Alliance, is in its third year and seeks to award airlines which are operating routes in the most sustainable way.
The challenge set to begin on Wednesday, 4th September 2024, with the inaugural sustainable flight on the Nairobi to New York City route. The chosen routes are as follows:
• NBO – JFK: Nairobi, Kenya (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) to New York City, USA
(John F. Kennedy International Airport)
• NBO – AMS: Nairobi, Kenya (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) to Amsterdam,
Netherlands (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol)
• NBO – CDG: Nairobi, Kenya (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) to Paris, France (Charles
de Gaulle Airport)
• NBO – LHR: Nairobi, Kenya (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) to London, United
Kingdom (London Heathrow Airport)
KQ’s theme for this year is to “Integrate Sustainability” across all aspects of its business, advancing its sustainability journey through the Aviation Challenge. This initiative encourages Kenya Airways stakeholders to actively contribute to sustainability goals by implementing innovative ideas and scaling successful initiatives across operations.
Kenya Airways sustainable flight challenge will include ground operations initiatives, a sustainably curated in-flight menu, e-mobility for guests, a travel light policy, waste management initiatives, and other related efforts
Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) recently announced a significant milestone in its journey towards profitability, marking the first time the airline has reported a profit after tax since 2013.For the first half of the financial year ending June 30, 2024, the airline achieved a profit after tax of Kshs 513 million, from the Kshs 21.7 billion loss reported in the similar previous period.
However in July 2024,Kenya Airways(KQ) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a strategic partnership aimed at intensifying the fight against trafficking in persons and enhancing the protection of migrants.
The collaboration brought together IOM Kenya’s expertise in migration governance and Kenya Airways’ extensive aviation network, to implement robust measures that will identify, prevent, combat trafficking in persons and facilitate regular pathways. This partnership is a testament to the commitment of both organizations to uphold human dignity and support the most vulnerable individuals on the move, promoting regular pathways.
“Kenya Airways recognizes that sustainability is a collective effort.In collaboration with customers, suppliers, and partners, KQ is fostering an ecosystem where sustainable practices are shared, scaled, and refined across the aviation industry,” stated Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO.
Kilavuka said the airline had adopted a systems-thinking approach to seamlessly integrate sustainability into all facets of its operations. This holistic approach encompasses data analysis, decision-making, reporting, and operations, ensuring that sustainability is a core part of KQ’s
business strategy. By challenging the status quo, KQ is positioning itself as a leader in the aviation industry, with a forward-thinking commitment to a sustainable future.
Earlier this year, Kenya Airways was selected as one of the African airlines to lead the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Registry.
This recognition follows KQ’s pioneering use of SAF on a long-haul flight from Africa to Europe in October 2023, which earned the airline the Most Impactful Breakthrough award. By playing a crucial role in the development of the SAF registry, KQ is building trust and confidence in SAF as a viable solution to reduce aviation’s environmental impact.
SAF is anticipated to account for up to 65% of the carbon mitigation required to achieve net zero carbon emissions in air transportation by 2050. The inaugural Sustainable Flight Challenge, launched in May 2022, brought together 16 airlines, and KQ’s participation this year underscores its commitment to leading sustainable aviation practices in Africa. In 2022, Kenya Airways (KQ)
In-Flight catering facility in collaboration with NAS Servair (NAS) won in the Best Partnership category and in 2023, KQ piloted the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Africa, thus winning the Most Breakthrough SAF category award.
