KQ, Emirates in new partnership for access to 28 destinations in a single ticket

Kenya Airways (KQ) and Emirates on Monday announced an interline partnership that will allow customers to fly the two airlines’ networks within a single itinerary.

Under the pact, Emirates customers will access 28 destinations on the Kenya Airways network using Nairobi as the gateway.

These include Nampula, Bangui, Bujumbara, Kigali, Dzaoudzi, Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, Kilimanjaro, Juba and Zanzibar.

Similarly, Emirates passengers travelling via Dubai can also book a single ticket itinerary from or to Mombasa.

At the same time, KQ passengers travelling from Nairobi and Mombasa will now be able to access the Emirates’ network and seamlessly connect through Dubai to 23 destinations across West and South Asia, the Far East, the Indian Ocean and Middle East.

These include Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, Ahmedabad, Beirut, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Seoul among others.

KQ’s Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu termed the partnership as the ideal gateway for their customers as Kenya’s national carrier seeks to increase connectivity between Africa and the Middle East through Emirates’ hub in Dubai. 

“Kenya is a strategic gateway in our Africa network, and this new interline agreement will enhance connectivity for Emirates’ customers and provide them more travel choices across the continent. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Kenya Airways, offering greater network opportunities and improving connections for both of our customers,” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, said on his part.

Since launching operations in Kenya with the launch of flights between Nairobi and Dubai in 1995, Emirates has grown the route to 14 weekly flights.

Kenya Airways recently launched direct flights between Mombasa and Dubai offering customers 4 weekly flights.