Kenya takes on competitors following major jet order

Kenya Airways is taking on South African Airways and other carriers on the African continent with its vision to be the leading African airline. In support of this vision, it has ordered 10 regional jets and signed an option to buy another 16 from Brazil’s Embraer. The deal is also expected to increase the airline’s control of various routes on the continent – part of its 10-year plan that will see KQ double its fleet and expand to more capital cities around Africa. According to Embraer, the 190 has a maximum payload of 13 060 kg. It is usually configured for 98-114 passengers. Freight capacity is limited, with the hold only 0.94 metres high. In other airfreight and travel-related news, Egypt and Nigeria have agreed to start regular flights between Cairo and Abuja, and Ethiopian Airlines has signed a code share agreement with South Korean airline Asiana Airlines. According to the agreement, the two carriers will cooperate on code share flights between Seoul, Hong Kong and Addis Ababa.