Kenya Airways releases its operating results for the fourth quarter ended 31st Mar 2010…

The airline availed 2,938m seat kilometres in capacity indicating a growth of 9% over prior year.  This increase was driven by the inauguration of seven new destinations within Africa as well as the reinstatement of frequencies to a number of existing routes whose operations had previously been cut back owing to the world’s economic slump. 

Europe registered the highest growth in capacity at 19% because of restored B777 operations to Amsterdam compared to prior year’s B767; coupled with additional frequencies to Paris which now stand at 4 weekly flights compared to 2 and 3 operated last year.  The combined capacity offered into the Middle East, Far East and Asia regions remained flat against last year despite the increased B777 flights to Mumbai whose effect was watered down by the withdrawal of direct flights into Guangzhou, now being combined with Bangkok.   Capacity outage into the Northern Africa region grew by 9% mainly due to increased frequencies to Djibouti via Addis Ababa while the East African region increased by a modest 3% The Southern Africa region recorded a 16% capacity growth against prior year due to the commencement of flights into N’Dola and Gaborone as well as the additional operations to Lusaka, Lilongwe, Johannesburg, Harare, Lubumbashi and Maputo.  The West and Central Africa region grew by 6% following the successful launches of operations to Libreville, Malabo Bangui all via Douala; as well as Brazzaville and Kisangani connecting through Kinshasa and Entebbe respectively. Capacity offered in the Domestic market shrunk by 3% because of the suspended operations of Lamu and Malindi.

The total network capacity uptake at 1,943m revenue passenger kilometres indicates a growth of 10%, while the total passengers carried at 695,710 represent a 9.8% increase. 

Total cargo volumes at 13,616 tons represent an increase of 27% over prior year indicating that the recovery of this market segment is on course.   

The cabin factor for the quarter averaged 66.2% compared to 65.7% attained last year underpinning the improved business conditions that were adversely impacted by the world economic crisis.   

Passenger numbers into Europe totalled 101,513 representing an impressive 16% growth against last year while the achieved cabin factor of 67.6% declined from prior year’s 69.1%.

In the Mid, Far East and Asia regions passengers carried grew by 12% to 104,043 while the resultant average cabin factor of 75.4% was better than 69.7% obtained last year. 

Passenger numbers carried within Africa but excluding Kenya, totalled 364,055 indicating a growth of 11% against prior year, but the average cabin factor achieved of 59.0% indicates a marginal drop from 60.1% achieved prior year because of the introduction of new destinations.

Passengers uplifted within Kenya at 126,099 were unchanged compared to last year, but the cabin factor grew from 72.8% to 75.5%.