State-owned Kenya Airways (KQ) and South African Airways (SAA) have joined hands to create a pan-African carrier that will build on the strength of the two airlines. The same was announced when Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta met his counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa told the media during a joint media briefing, “The decision of our respective national airlines to deepen their collaboration is further testament to the growing ties between our two countries.”
“President Kenyatta and I have reaffirmed the strategic importance of bilateral relations and reiterated our desire to elevate the nature of the relationship, which would include the conclusion of a strategic partnership agreement.”
Last week, Kenya Airways and Boeing entered into a partnership to develop the Fahari Innovation Hub, which was launched by the carrier in July. The Fahari Innovation Hub is a platform to unite innovators with entrepreneurs, to stimulate the development of the Kenyan aviation industry and address both current and future challenges.
Kenya Airways Group CEO and MD Allan Kilavuka told the media, “While the pandemic came with extreme challenges for the aviation industry, it also brought along opportunities for reflection initiatives, one of them being the Fahari Innovation Hub.”
“This not only enabled the presentation of new world-class ideas that became part of the solutions to the challenges we faced but also brought together partners with whom we have worked together across the value chain in a bid to revive operations.”