Following a June announcement that Kenya Airways (KQ) was close to taking over the management of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), it has emerged that these plans have been shelved.
The plan, which would have seen KQ merge with the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA), was part of a restructure in an attempt to save KQ from potential financial collapse. The plan was also said to be similar to regional competitor, Ethiopian Airlines, which manages Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.
According to Kenya’s The Star, Johnny Andersen, KAA MD, speaking ahead of the launch of the Aviation Business Excellence Awards in September, said: “The government gave us a proposal to see how the agreement would save KQ and increase operations within JKIA, but this has not resulted in any possible conclusions. Therefore, the merger should not be expected any time soon.”
Andersen said KAA would look at alternative ways of improving efficiency at its airports, including extensive business assessment of key stakeholders – airlines, ground-handlers, immigration department, retail and duty-free shops, eateries, cargo companies and financial institutions – on their service delivery in relation to customers.
In January, all JKIA staff underwent mandatory training ordered by Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i. Andersen said: “The training was not enough. We need to co-ordinate all stakeholders to raise the standards of their services to gain extensive recognition of JKIA as the best in East Africa and in the region.”
