This archive report was first published on 2 July 2021.
Published on July 2, 2021, Kenya Airways has reduced its flight frequency to Entebbe by 25% in response to the rising Covid-19 cases in Uganda and strict government containment measures.
The airline has cut the number of flights from 12 a week to nine, citing low loads on the route as passengers keep off due to the pandemic.
Uganda is one of the key routes for Kenya Airways, with the most frequencies within the region, and low demand is set to impact the carrier's earnings.
According to Allan Kilavuka, chief executive of Kenya Airways, 'There is a third wave in Uganda, and we have had to restrict our flights by cutting on frequencies.'
The emerging waves of the virus have severely impacted the carrier, with each time they start picking up, countries announce outbreaks of new waves, affecting the airline's revenue.
Uganda is currently battling the third wave, which has led to a total lockdown in the landlocked nation, with restrictions on movement from one district to another.
Additionally, the restriction on the UK route, one of the lucrative destinations in Europe, has also impacted the airline's revenue, as Kenyans are still restricted from traveling there due to Nairobi being placed under the red list.
Kenya Airways has negotiated a productivity-based method of payment with its lessors to avoid fixed costs and reduce high expenses involved in fleet management during the low-demand period.
The carrier is expected to save $45 million this year after changing its terms with the lessors to only pay for the hours the aircraft are operational.
