KQ Incurs $8 Million Loss Due to Suspension of Kenya-Guangzhou Flights

A loss of $8 million in revenues has been incurred by the Kenya Airways (KQ) after its Nairobi-Guangzhou route was suspended owing to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

According to Allan Kilavuka, the airline’s acting CEO, seeing that China is a key cargo origin as well as a main feeder to the regional freighters, the losses cut across both the passenger and cargo side.

“We are looking at lost revenue of about $8 million, both passenger and cargo. However, various initiatives are in place to increase passenger and cargo revenues on other routes to minimise this impact,” said Mr Kilavuka.

KQ announced a temporary suspension of flights to Guangzhou on31st January 2020 resulting in the transfer of the aircraft that operated the route to China, to Dubai from 11th February 2020. The airline used to travel to Guangzhou three times a week before the suspension.

The East African Airlines, Air Tanzania and Rwandair are also other regional airlines that suspended flights to China.