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The Nairobi–Dubai route is widely regarded as a strategic hub connection, enabling onward travel to Asia, Europe, and the Americas via Dubai’s international network.
Kenya Airways says fog reduced visibility on approach to the JKIA runway on Sunday morning, prompting the diversion of two flights. The flights later returned and landed safely in Nairobi after conditions improved, with only limited schedule delays.
In a statement on May 9, 2026, the national carrier said the aircraft landed safely at Cape Town International Airport at approximately 1:55 pm EAT.
The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry warns the Middle East crisis is disrupting maritime and air cargo routes, delaying shipments and raising freight and fuel costs, threatening billions in annual export revenue. Measures are underway to cushion exporters.
According to the airline, the Government of Kenya, through the National Treasury and Economic Planning, holds a 48.90 percent stake in the company, contrary to claims that it has surpassed majority ownership.
In a statement released on Monday, the airline said the loss was “primarily driven by well-documented global aviation constraints, including fleet availability and supply chain disruptions.”
Policy analyst Leonard Khafafa warns Kenya Airways needs at least $2bn in fresh capital after posting a Sh17.2bn loss, citing thin aviation margins and rivals’ heavy state support.
The airline said its performance was heavily affected by temporary grounding of part of its fleet.
In a customer advisory issued on March 8, the airline said the challenges were affecting flights operating between Nairobi and the Indian commercial hub, forcing adjustments that have affected normal operations.
The carrier advised passengers departing from JKIA to anticipate possible changes to their travel plans as the airline works to resume normal operations.
Kenya Airways warned that proceeding with the flight despite the advisory would expose passengers and crew to unnecessary danger.
Muturi called on the government to act without delay to safeguard the lives of citizens at risk and emphasized that all transport and evacuation fees should be waived for those seeking to leave dangerous regions.
The appointments come as Kenya Airways continues efforts to strengthen its governance and strategic leadership as the airline works toward long-term financial stability and growth in the competitive aviation sector.
The airline clarified that these are not part of its regular scheduled services but are designated repatriation flights targeting customers who are citizens or residents of the UAE seeking to travel from Nairobi, and vice versa.
The move comes in the wake of coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian military positions on Saturday, which prompted Iran to retaliate with missiles and drone attacks targeting military installations.
The national carrier said the blizzard warning and adverse weather conditions affecting several parts of the United States, including New York, had led airport authorities to suspend flight operations for specific periods.
The airline anticipates that normal, on-time schedules will be fully restored within the next 24 hours and urged passengers to check their flight status before traveling.
The industrial action by KAWU began after a seven day strike notice issued on February 9, 2026 to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority expired. In a letter addressed to KCAA Director General Emile N. Arao, the union warned that unionisable employees would down their tools if long standing concerns were not addressed.
In a statement on Monday, KAA’s Acting Managing Director and CEO, Dr Mohamud Gedi, said contingency plans had been activated.
The airline noted that such air turnbacks are part of normal safety measures in aviation when landing conditions are not suitable. However, the earlier disruption affected another scheduled service.
Ethiopian Airlines has experienced a steady decline since 2023. In 2022, it ranked first in Africa and sixth in the Middle East and Africa region, achieving 77 percent of flights on schedule.
The airline warned that additional disruptions may affect KQ 002 on 25 January and KQ 003 on 26 January.
, Okwiri said the national carrier failed to prepare for mandatory heavy aircraft maintenance, especially the costly D-checks that are required after several years of aircraft use. As a result, the airline lacks the cash needed to service multiple aircraft, forcing them to remain grounded for long periods.
Speaking during an interview with Radio Generation on Tuesday, Okwiri recalled a time when new engineers at the national carrier were placed under seasoned professionals to learn the basics of the industry before taking on bigger roles.
Currently, Eldoret is served by only two airlines: Skyward and Jambojet. The route, along with Nairobi–Mombasa and Nairobi–Kisumu, remains one of the busiest domestic connections in the country.
In a public announcement issued on Tuesday, the Board of Directors said Kilavuka’s exit follows his service during one of the most turbulent periods in the airline’s history, including the COVID-19 pandemic that severely disrupted the global aviation industry.
The dispute centers on Kenya Airways’ Buddy Pass Programme, which allows staff to nominate up to five people to travel at heavily discounted rates or free standby tickets. These passes are subject to strict conditions and cannot be sold or transferred.
The collaboration was announced after a high-level meeting between Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga and Kenya Airways Managing Director Allan Kilavuka, where both sides agreed on a new joint framework to enhance early detection, investigations and staff training across the airline’s operations.
The ruling brought an end to an eight-year trial that exposed how staff trusted with protecting Kenya’s main international gateway took part in a drug scheme that authorities say risked damaging the reputation of national institutions.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Vice Chairperson and Garissa County Woman Representative Amina Udgoon Siyad, scrutinized the Auditor General’s report, which highlighted irregular spending, unapproved transactions, and potential losses of taxpayer money. The audit revealed that the airline received Sh10 billion in 2022/2023 as an on-lent loan, taking the total funding between 2019 and 2023 to Sh41.27 billion.