KLM and Kenya Airways entered into a joint venture in 1995. The partnership was extended to the Amsterdam-Nairobi route in 1997. Africa is an important market for KLM. “KLM is proud of its longstanding partnership and has every faith in Kenya Airways’ expansion plans for the African continent,” said KLM President & CEO Peter Harman, who also holds a seat on the Kenya Airways supervisory board. The announcement of the investment in Nairobi was also attended by the Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki: “This is a huge milestone both for our country and  for Kenya Airways. The airline industry is extremely important to the economy of a country. KLM has once again proven the significance it attaches to its partnership with Kenya Airways.” Peter Hartman: “For KLM, this is further consolidation of our position in Africa, where we this week launched a direct service between Amsterdam and Luanda.

The capital will, among other things, be used to purchase new aircraft, such as Boeing 787s. The airline will also purchase Embraer aircraft for shorter distances. The new aircraft are intended to achieve growth and to replace the airline’s less economical Boeing 767s. Kenya Airways will also add new destinations to its network.

With this expansion, Kenya Airways will strengthen the position of Nairobi airport, which will play an even more important role as the key hub on the African continent. Passengers will gain easier access to African destinations owing to the cooperation between KLM and Air France via their hubs Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
After KLM, the Kenyan government holds the second-largest share in Kenya Airways. All shareholders have a preferential right to contribute to the rights issue in the form of new shares.

Over the years, KLM has increased its number of destinations on the African continent to 15. Together with Kenya Airways, a total of 43 destinations are served between East Africa and Europe. This week also marks the 65th anniversary of the official launch of KLM’s services to South Africa.

The Angolan capital Luanda is the 71st intercontinental destination to be added to KLM’s route network. In addition, KLM will launch a thrice-weekly service to Lusaka, Zambia, on 15 May.

In addition to passengers, airfreight is important to the partnership between KLM and Kenya Airways. The two airlines are the first in the industry to offer a direct airfreight service between China and Africa. The service links China’s key industrial zone Guangdong with Nairobi, which is the “Gateway to Africa”, with flights to destinations throughout the continent.

Passengers flying with the SkyTeam global airline alliance have the option of using the “Go Africa Pass”. This is a cost-saving and flexible means to fly Kenya Airways throughout Africa. The “Go Africa Pass” is available to business and leisure travellers flying on an intercontinental round-trip ticket with one of the 15 SkyTeam member airlines or on a “Go Round the World” ticket.