Kenya signs for B-777s

Posted by- Neelam Mathews

Oct 24, 2011

Kenya Airways fleet modernisation is moving forward with the carrier signing an agreement with General Electric Capital Aviation Services, (GECAS) the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, for the delivery of two Boeing 777-300s Extended Range (ER).

The two aircraft will be delivered in October 2013 and May 2014 and will operate long haul routes of Amsterdam, Bangkok, Guangzhou and Dubai.

“With the increased passenger and cargo capacity that the Boeing 777-300ER offers, we are pleased with this development as it will see Kenya Airways significantly increase tonnage and passenger capacity while enhancing our premium service offering to Europe and the Far East,” said  Kenya Airways CEO and  Group Managing Director Titus Naikuni.

“This also speaks to Kenya Airways’ efforts of flying a more efficient and environmentally friendly fleet,” he added. The Boeing 777-300ER provides increased passenger and cargo capability at lower seat-mile cost for long range markets.

“The B777-300ER aircraft will be operated by the same crew that fly the B777-200ER aircraft in our current fleet but we envisage that sufficient additional crew will be recruited and/or trained by the time the first aircraft arrive,” said Naikuni

“GE is focused on creating partnerships and providing a wide range of solutions that will support Kenya and the rest of Africa’s infrastructure transformation and industrial growth,” said GE President and CEO for Africa, Jay Ireland

Kenya Airways will configure its 777-300ER’s with approximately 400 seats which is an extra passenger capacity of about 78 passengers over the 777-200ER. In addition, the aircraft will offer higher volumetric cargo capacity of over 12 tonnes.

In April this year, Kenya Airways and Boeing Commercial Airplanes reached an agreement on the order for nine Boeing 787-8s with the first one expected to be delivered by the fourth quarter of 2013.