- Gitonga also stated that KQ is looking into exciting partnerships that the airline will be announcing soon.
- The destinations for Emirates include Nampula, Bangui, Bujumbura, Kigali, Dzaoudzi, Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Zanzibar, among other regional points across Africa.
Image: HANDOUT
On Monday, Kenya Airways and Emirates announced an interline partnership, allowing their customers access to new destinations on the two airlines.
The partnership now allows customers from both airlines to travel within a single itinerary.
It will also provide customers with increased travel options as well as seamless baggage check-in to their final destination.
Under the partnership, Emirates' customers will be able to fly to 28 destinations on the KQ networks, using Nairobi as the getaway. while KQ customers will seamlessly connect through Dubai to 23 destinations.
The destinations for Emirates include Nampula, Bangui, Bujumbura, Kigali, Dzaoudzi, Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Zanzibar, among other regional points across Africa.
Those for KQ will be across West and South Asia, the Far East, the Indian Ocean and Middle East such as Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, Ahmedabad, Beirut, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Seoul among others.
Emirates passengers traveling via Dubai can also book a single-ticket itinerary from or to Mombasa.
KQ's head of Network Planning and Alliances Martin Gitonga says the airline expects more than 10 per cent revenue bump based on the existing capacity of the airlines'
"Prior to the partnership, Passengers had to buy two separate tickets. This is always more expensive to the customers. We now expect Emirates to easily access and sell seats on Kenya Airways flights and vice versa," he said.
Further, Gitonga stated that the partnership was brought about to fully focus on destinations KQ does not serve directly or more seamlessly.
"KQ has direct flights to Europe and the USA with strong partners. Loophole for KQ is Southern Asia and Far East as we operate only to Mainland China. Hence one stop access to Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok and even Tel Aviv is necessary," he said.
On priority in Emirates-stationed destinations, Gitonga says the move is based on agreements and contracts with relevant service providers.
"Of course, the closer two airlines work together, the more synergies they develop and engage in. Our partnership with Emirates opens the door to further engagements on numerous areas including Loyalty Programmes."
"We believe that once we make our customers happy and loyal, the financials and market shares will follow."
Gitonga also stated that KQ is looking into exciting partnerships that the airline will be announcing soon.
Bigger gain is to the passenger with access to more destinations, better handling and optimistically a growth in frequencies especially from Mombasa to Dubai for KQ.
KQ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said the bilateral interline arrangement will provide an ideal gateway for customers.
"Partnerships like these are key in aviation as they take advantage of mutual scale and efficiencies to provide customers with more seamless travel options," he added.
Tickets are available to purchase on emirates.com, online travel agents (OTAs) as well as through major travel agencies.