Kenya Airways has announced an ambitious plan to expand its fleet from 32 to 100 aircraft by 2035, aiming to strengthen its position as a leading African airline. The announcement was made during the airline’s annual agency awards ceremony in Nairobi on July 29, 2026.

The expansion strategy includes growing the fleet to 67 planes by 2030, supporting a forecasted increase in annual passenger traffic from 5.2 million today to 9 million within the decade. This growth aligns with the airline’s efforts to rebuild its global footprint following years of restructuring.

A key milestone in this plan is the recent reintroduction of Kenya Airways’ largest passenger aircraft, the 400-seat Boeing 777-300ER, which resumed service on July 17 on the busy Nairobi-London Heathrow route. This move enhances seat capacity and cargo volume on one of the airline’s most important long-haul corridors.

Key highlights of Kenya Airways’ expansion strategy:

  • Increase fleet size from 32 to 67 aircraft by 2030, then to 100 by 2035.
  • Double annual passenger numbers to 9 million by 2035.
  • Leverage strong partnerships with travel agencies, which currently generate 60% of passenger revenue.
  • Maintain competitive edge against regional rivals by restoring and enhancing fleet capacity, particularly the Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
  • Expand commercial partnerships to support network growth across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Captain George Kamal, Acting Group Managing Director and CEO, emphasized the importance of collaboration with travel trade partners as the airline approaches its 50th anniversary. He noted that these partnerships are crucial for sustaining growth and shared success.

Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, described the expansion as a commitment to practical and mutually beneficial growth with industry stakeholders.

Analysts view Kenya Airways’ fleet ambitions as a bold move that, if achieved, will establish the carrier as one of the largest passenger and cargo operators in Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing Nairobi’s role as a major aviation hub.