NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya Airways has reported a wider loss of Sh16.1 billion, as higher jet fuel prices, aircraft availability challenges and rising operating costs continued to weigh on the national carrier.
The loss increased from Sh12.2 billion recorded in the previous reporting period, highlighting the financial pressure facing the airline despite improving passenger demand, stronger fares and efforts to restore aircraft capacity.
Kenya Airways said the cost pressures were largely driven by a sharp increase in jet fuel prices during the period.
Jet fuel costs surge
The airline said jet fuel prices rose by 66 per cent, largely attributed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The increase pushed Kenya Airways’ fuel costs up by 32 per cent, placing additional pressure on the carrier’s margins.
The airline also faced challenges obtaining aircraft spare parts, with global supply chain disruptions resulting in longer lead times and delays in the availability of critical components.
Kenya Airways Chairman Kiprono Kittony said the combination of higher fuel prices, supply constraints and operational pressures had affected the airline’s profitability.
“Collectively, these factors exerted sustained pressure on margins and overall network profitability,” Kittony said.
Total operating costs increased by 14 per cent during the period, further widening the gap between expenses and revenue.
Passenger traffic falls but seat utilisation improves
Despite the financial challenges, Kenya Airways said its underlying commercial performance remained encouraging.
Passenger traffic declined by 9 per cent, but the airline recorded a four-percentage-point improvement in cabin factor, indicating better utilisation of the seats available across its network.
The carrier also benefited from stronger average fares, which helped support revenue performance despite the decline in passenger numbers.
The improved cabin factor suggests that while Kenya Airways operated with constrained capacity, the available seats were being filled more efficiently.
Kenya Airways restores aircraft capacity
Kenya Airways Group Managing Director George Kamal said the airline had started restoring aircraft capacity after maintenance requirements and supply chain challenges left several planes unavailable.
A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner returned to service in mid-July 2026, while a Boeing 777-300ER was delivered and subsequently returned to operations.
The airline said both aircraft had been well received in the market and were expected to support its capacity recovery.
The return of the aircraft comes as Kenya Airways works to address operational disruptions that have affected its ability to meet demand across its network.
