Kenya: National Flag Carrier Receives its 9th Embraer Aircraft

By Staff Writer

Nairobi --- National carrier Kenya Airways has taken possession of a new Embraer E190 jet, as part of the strategic move to boost its fleet.

Registered as 5Y-KYS, the E190 touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport  Saturdayat 2030hrs from Sao Jose dos Campos, Embraer Headquarters in Brazil.

The new 96- seater aircraft will join the growing family of Embraer jets that Kenya Airways uses for its regional operations in Africa, and helps fulfil the plans to build capacity that is more efficient for its Africa market which is the core focus for the Pride of Africa.

“This is the fourth delivery following an agreement signed between Kenya Airways and the manufacturers of Embrear last year, for five jets. We are looking forward to receiving yet another jet in the coming months”, said the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Titus Naikuni.

He added, “With our route network expansion firmly on course, the addition of a new aircraft into the fleet is quite timely.”

Dr. Naikuni added that the increase in capacity had been necessitated by growing regional passenger and cargo demand, the ongoing expansion of the KQ’s route network and the need to modernize the fleet in line with global standards.

The Embraer E190 is a Brazilian-built state-of-the-art regional jet. It has been configured in a dual-class layout with 96 seats: 12 in business class and 84 in economy. The jet has also been fitted a modern in-flight entertainment system with individual touch screens.

“The E-190 fleet brings to Kenya Airways an even higher level of technological advancement, lower maintenance and operational costs- at a time when the trends in the global economy demand that businesses adopt efficiency in their processes”, Dr. Naikuni said.

Recently Embraer and Kenya Airways finalized the contract for the acquisition of 10 EMBRAER 190 jets.  The deal also includes purchase rights for 16 aircraft, which could be either the EMBRAER 190 or other models of the E-Jet family.

The delivery of the new jet brings the number of Embraer planes in the Kenya Airways fleet to 9- five E170s and four E190s, to support plans to fly to all African capital cities by the end of 2013.

Dr. Naikuni said “The combination of the E170 and E190 in our network will offer greater efficiency and flexibility in right-sizing the aircraft to meet route demand, using the same crew and ensuring consistent, high comfort for our passengers”.