This archive report was first published on 24 November 2021.
On November 24, 2021, Kenya Airways PLC (KQ) and South African Airways (SAA) signed a Strategic Partnership Framework in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking a significant milestone towards establishing a Pan African Airline Group by 2023.
The partnership follows a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed two months prior, aimed at fostering knowledge exchange, expertise, innovation, digital technologies, and best practices between the two airlines.
By working together, the airlines aim to increase passenger traffic, cargo opportunities, and trade by leveraging their strengths in South Africa, Kenya, and Africa. This partnership is expected to improve the financial viability of both airlines and offer customers more competitive price offerings for passenger and cargo segments.
Kenya Airways Chairman Michael Joseph and SAA Chairman John Lamola signed the Strategic Partnership Framework in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Cyril Ramaphosa, who witnessed the signing ceremony during President Kenyatta's three-day State visit to South Africa.
The partnership aligns with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) and includes demand recovery and cost containment strategies to aid the recovery of both carriers in a competitive African airline environment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Michael Joseph emphasized that the cooperation aligns with Kenya Airways' core purpose of contributing to the sustainable development of Africa and is based on mutual benefits.
Both airlines remain committed to their financial turnaround strategy, which includes combining assets to provide a more robust and competitive aviation ecosystem.
According to SAA Chairman John Lamola, the Strategic Partnership Framework will improve the financial viability of both airlines by creating a formidable air transport connection in Africa, benefiting from the hubs of Johannesburg and Nairobi, and igniting the Kenya and South Africa tourism circuits.
