Kenya Airways passenger numbers up 15 per cent

Kenya Airways posted a 15.4 per cent growth in total passenger numbers in its third quarter, lifted by flights to new routes and greater flight frequencies within Africa, the company has said.

The airline, 26 per cent owned by Air France — KLM, said passenger numbers rose to 956,742 in the three months from October to December.

The amount of cargo carried was up 6.2 per cent at 16,131 tonnes, on improved capacity and increased sales.

Kenya Airways is planning a rights issue to raise an unspecified amount of money to expand its fleet and routes to which it flies. The airline wants to double its fleet in the next five years to extend its network in Africa.

Passenger traffic within Kenya was up 26 per cent to 205,654, while the rest of the continent excluding Kenya generated 14 per cent growth to 502,435. Africa contributes about 60 per cent of the airline’s revenue.

—Reuters