Delta expands
From African Flyer: Delta Airlines (US) has announced new African destinations including – New York to Nairobi via Dakar (Senegal) four times a week
Kenya Airways has toyed with the idea of flight to Miami oo Atlanta for several years
Compe for KQ
There have been a lot of protects from Ugandan about the high cost of flights to Nairobi (at ungodly hours) to connect to other Kenya Airways (KQ) flights – with tickets costing about $340 for the 300 mile journey. Of course short flights are really lucrative in Africa – and Air Kenya makes a killing with their $100 flights to Masai Mara, other games parks, and holiday destinations.
So along comes an Aga Khan backed airline set to begin on the Entebbe – Nairobi route operating as Air Uganda who will begin flights in November.
Kenya Airways needs to change their strategy ASAP. They are getting beat from everywhere, South African Airlines will start flying to Mombasa and now United Airlines flying to Nairobi. KQ might need to strengthen their African operations and dominate these routes.
They have major problems and more competition is coming their way. Interesting analysis at Nairobist research report on Kenya Airways
KQ fares to Entebbe and Dar are high, compared to those around Kenya. They have enjoyed the route for long, am sure Ugandan’s and East African’s as a whole will welcome a new Airline with cheaper fares.
KQ TO ENTEBBE IS NOW $199 SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WANT!!! TO FLY FOR FREE????
kq need to pull their pants up! Virgin, South African, Emirates & now Delta are gonna bite their ass (excuse my french) KQ’s presence in Europe is pretty weak, just because they fly AMS, LHR & CDG doen’t mean they can sit & relax! Their marketing in Europe is non-existance not in magazine, online not even on their website! KQ need to invest in marketing their different niches (Tourism, business, W.Africa/China trade etc) and need to focus on digital/online advertising and stop relying heavily on Tour operators to fill up their B777 who they pay 6% commission anyway!
Richard brandon is pushing the NBO route big time with strong adversting in UK & even though I know KQ is matching Virgin not everyone is aware of this! Perfect example being no special offers listed on their website & the list goes on & on!!
Nevertheless KQ has been doing a great job but need to to stop jogging & start running!!!!!
KQ fan
Just how competitive would NY-DAKAR-NBI route be for Delta? I’d only take it if NY-DAKAR is less than 5hrs and DAKAR-NBI is less than 7hrs, with no waiting time. Otherwise, flying through Europe remains very appealing. Couple that with the air safety issues across west Africa and you get fewer enthusiasts.
On KQ and Ugandans. Haven’t Ugandans experimented with about five different airlines over the past 7 years just to spite KQ? They all fell like dominoes. Will the new one survive? Granted, KQ fares on Ug and Tz routes are ridiculous. There’s a time I flew economy to DAR at $400 on a huge B767 that was 3/4 empty. So, you pay for the empty seats. I bet reducing the price to $200 would have attracted a few more passengers. The new $199 return no-frills odd-houred flights won’t sell with most fliers. I hope they don’t hit a rock too soon with their sloppiness.
I am fan of KQ because its symbol of our young nation. I like their aggression is seeking out new markets. But in the same you close the door as you go into you house, they need to figure out how to create barrieer sto entry in some of these markets they are in.
So offer different packages to different types of passengers i.e. segment the market so they have a price for each time of the day they travel. Employ locals to publicise themselves. Sponsor events in those countries. Be on time. Good customer service et al.
KQ deserves it: bad service, lack of punctuality etc.
I flew to Malindi 4 weeks ago on Air Kenya. The flight was dead on time, and we got there as promised. Check-in was so easy, the porter literally took the bags out of my car and onto the plane! No lines no nonsense.Plane was near the gate, staff happy and helpful.
Now, 2 weeks ago I flew to Mombasa and unfortunately my office had booked me on KQ. WOW! What a horrible experience. Firstly, getting to JKIA is a challenge in itself. Once there, the line was so long, we took 1 hour to check-in. Major confusion everywhere, slow staff, empty counters. So pathetic! SO now they want us to get on the plane, we walked like 1 km from T3 to T1 to get onto a plane there. Imagine, passenegers casually strolling on the apron!
KQ, ever heard of PanAm? Be careful!
I was under the impression that until JKIA becomes a FAA CAT 1 no direct flights are to be deployed between US & Kenya???
Delta are offering an offer of $850 OW to Nairobi from JFK, this will sure be a hit since in 2006 US tourists had jumped to over 40,000.
here’s the link about Delta http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3627249/
Still on KQ i got a few more questions on their strategy 2008.
There are a “few” cities I’d like to know if they are lookign to fly esp since they have 4 new aircraft to be delivered late 2008.
Capetown, Durban, Luanda, Jeddah, New Delhi, Rome & Milan, Manchester & maybe Geneva & Frankfurt and the big let down that’s way overdue is JFK or Washington(forget Atlanta)??
I, for one, will be happy to have a more direct flight into Nai.
Ever since Brito started that stupidy of “transit visa”, I have been wishing for this. I have never heard of such a thing. A visa so that I can sit in a terminal for like 2 hours!!! that is a bribe… call it what you want.
People are starting to realize that they need us more than we need them.
KQ… woooi pull up those socks… you are staring at death…
guys you are forgetting a small but important issue of CODESHARE
KQ is part of SKY TEAM and so is DELTA. So They bring traffic to Nairobi for KQ to Distribute….
Gowsh…dont know why Kenyans despise our own world class products so much.
Regards
Frequent Flyer
Ugandans have opened like 5 different airlines in just as many years…some even with South Africans etc etc .so whats so different this time???
You guys are missing one important point about KQ — It’s accidents!
They have had 2 fatal accidents within what? a 7 year span?
With increased competition and options, people are going to say this to themselves: Should risk flying KQ when I can fly a SAFER airline that has had no fatal accidents.
Whatever you say…
KQ is INDEED the Pride of Africa!
Period.
Kifaru: I dispute that KQ is “getting beat everywhere”. Nairobist have great reports
Sue; when they dominate a route, they can set the fares. It’s not a KQ problem, all airlines around the world have to maximize on such routes
Anon1: Nairo – Ent is $340 (after taxes)
Anon2: KQ is doing their part opening new routes and advertising them.
we~a~do: People are leery of stopping over in W. Africa, but it could make sense. If the stop over was 2 hours or less – that would beat the 6 hour layovers in Europe
MainaT: national pride aside, it’s a good airline, and model of privatization and partnerships. The airline is pretty stretched following the loss of their aircraft, and that is telling in passenger complaints
Dropmyload: Mombasa service is wanting. I get the feeling they’d rather bump locals on those flights to ass thru passengers connecting on to Europe
EUAfrica: The route requires DOT (US) approval first, and I think JKIA should be certified. Also, you mentioned Delhi as possible route. There’s so much siasa in the airline industry and flying to a second city in another country (Delhi, Cape Town) is likely to be opposed by domestic carriers
Hash: Hope for the best
Don: I agree, a transit visa is a travesty.
Anon3: Lakini Delta don’t bring traffic for KQ to distribute – they are doing it to make money
Anon 4: The Aga Kha brings financial muscle (something start up airlines run out of) and good management
Anon 4: KQ has bad luck, with two unrelated plane losses. But their safety record is good, ask anyone in the industry
ME: Buy more shares in KQ
I dont need to buy more/any shares in KQ to show my patriotism.
I will fly KQ whether or not their prices are competitive…accidents or no accidents…direct flights or 10 layovers…
I repeat…
Kenya Airways, the Pride of Africa.
Anonymous :
KQ has had 2 fatal accidents in under 10 years. Whatever you say or insinuate, their safety record is still good. And besides…at least these are not terrorist-related accidents.
You guys except waaaaaaaaaaay too much from KQ. While in Kenya, I flew KQ severally to Mombasa and Eldoret. I never had a problem…except during peak seasons.
I live in the US and most local flights are sheer crap.
Some airlines even sell you in-flight head phones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve flown BA, KLM as well as Swiss Air.
I repeat…KQ is the Pride of Africa.
Regards,
Another Frequent Flyer.
I hear ati African airlines are like 3% of global flights yet have 30% of crashes.
Personally from the last KQ crash, i’m yet to understand what a 24 year old is doing in a cockpit incharge of souls. In the US you cannot even rent a car at 24. At that age, a guy should be flying cargo from Eldoret for the next 10 years. Before flying like a 10 seater in his 30s.
I’m tired of things being “good enough for kenya”.
Ask and expect more. Then have pride when your expectation are met.
Don, I concur! What was a 23-year-old doing in the cockpit as the captain, on a treacherous route that is west-central Africa??? I mean, are some people so privileged that they’d skip some critical qualification stages that the rest of us have to go through? KQ management has lots of eggs on its face; this question will be difficult to answer.
Don & We-a-do…
You said…”I hear ati African airlines are like 3% of global flights yet have 30% of crashes.”
State your sources and dont just give us out-of-the-blue statistics.
And if those statistics are from the Western World, why would i not be surprised.
You said…”Personally from the last KQ crash, i’m yet to understand what a 24 year old is doing in a cockpit incharge of souls.
The average Kenyan malizas KCSE at 18 years. (I think GCE kids maliza even earlier).
24-18= 6 years…thats enough time to go for your PPL,CPL licenses and start flying.
So what in God’s Green Earth are you talking about???
You said…”In the US you cannot even rent a car at 24.”
Which state in the US do you live in??????????????????????
In the US, kids can even drive a car at 16 years.
You said…”I’m tired of things being “good enough for Kenya”.
KQ are not setting the bar low just because its Kenya. It would be crazy for them to do so while BA, Virgin and Emirates are in town.
What they have is good enough…we are waiting for better…then best.
You said…”Ask and expect more. Then have pride when your expectation are met.”
We will keep asking for more and expecting more.
Meanwhile,we are not expecting perfection from KQ.
If you want perfection go and fly BA FIRST Class…or even KQ 1st Class.
Meanwhile, when you fly Economy…you get what you pay for.
Once again…
Kenya Airways,
The Pride Of Africa!!!
Dropmyload…
You said…”KQ deserves it: bad service, lack of punctuality etc
Deserves what???
There’s a high chance i have flown more than you and i dont think you know the defination of bad service.
You said…”I flew to Malindi 4 weeks ago on Air Kenya. The flight was dead on time, and we got there as promised. Check-in was so easy, the porter literally took the bags out of my car and onto the plane! No lines no nonsense.Plane was near the gate, staff happy and helpful.”
How funny!
1st…Does Air Kenya still exist???
2nd…Any flight is bound to be on time if there are not too many passengers checking in.
3rd…Check-in is definately easy if there are not too many passengers checking in.
4th…Since when does lines = nonesense??????
Have you ever flown during a peak season?
This past Dec i flew from the US to Kenya and the lines were sooooooooooooooooooo long that i missed my flight.
5th…When an airline is not busy/popular…porters have enough time to take bags out of your car and into the plane.
They can even come and pick you from your house!!!!
You said…”…unfortunately my office had booked me on KQ. WOW! What a horrible experience. Firstly, getting to JKIA is a challenge in itself. Once there, the line was so long, we took 1 hour to check-in. Major confusion everywhere, slow staff, empty counters. So pathetic!”
Dude, what do you expect from a POPULAR Carrier?????
As i told the rest…fly 1st Class and you’ll get special treatment.
I once flew Swiss Air and there were NO lines etc.
However, it took me forever to communicate with the flight attendants who had weird english….the seats were a joke…and they served me Spaghetti (in the name of “the food-is-over)!!!! on an International flight???
(BTW, I refused to accept their explanation and hence they brought me a special meal…coz Hell-No…will i pay $1800 to be served spaghetti.)
You said…”KQ, ever heard of PanAm? Be careful!”
We have not only heard of PanAm…but also Virgin Airlines & Delta.
We shall not be moved.
Bottom Line…
KQ is the Pride of Africa na Najivunia Kuwa Mkenya
me,
perhaps I can clarify here:
“There’s a high chance i have flown more than you and i dont think you know the defination of bad service”
I don’t see what relevance this has. You may have flown more than I have, but bad service is bad service.
“1st…Does Air Kenya still exist???
2nd…Any flight is bound to be on time if there are not too many passengers checking in.
3rd…Check-in is definately easy if there are not too many passengers checking in.
4th…Since when does lines = nonesense??????
Have you ever flown during a peak season?”
1st: Air Kenya still exists and still flies.
2nd: The flight was full.
3rd: The flight was full.
4th: lines=nonsense, especially when you have KQ staff frantically pulling passengers from the lines for flights that were supposed to have taken-off 30 minutes earlier. Checking them in at the Premier counter.
“5th…When an airline is not busy/popular…porters have enough time to take bags out of your car and into the plane.
They can even come and pick you from your house!!!!”
Perhaps we should confine our comments to facts that make sense?
You said…”KQ, ever heard of PanAm? Be careful!”
“We have not only heard of PanAm…but also Virgin Airlines & Delta.
We shall not be moved”
Perhaps you don’t get it: PanAm is a failed airline, while Delta and Virgin are still in business.
I think the point here is that we are also patriotic, but that does not mean we should accept sub-standard services from a Kenyan supplier.
I suppose KQ’s P&L will eventually tell us who is right.
ME; What I meant was to encourage you to buy more shares in KQ, but not for patriotic reasons. I’d buy more myself, but they are a bit pricey for me (having sold out in January)
– I too will fly KQ anytime. However on Euorpean or Asian routes, price will be a factor in my choice
We~a~do & Don: the air industry is one that such generalizations are false & dangerous.
– We should wait till the KQ 507 report is out. However I doubt that “an unqualified 24 year old” was flying the plane (see ME’s comments)
Well,
Banks, generalizations are dangerouse I agree. But there was a 24 year old in the cockpit. That is fact that nobody talks about.
Me, I said RENT a car, not drive. As in, no one trusts a 24 year old with their property (but that does not mean that the 24 year old cannot buy his/her own car).
And just because you have a liscense does not mean you can fly OTHERS. That is why I said they should be flying CARGO.
There is a little thing called flight hours that must be racked up before you are put in charge of human souls.
Dropmyload…
There’s a high chance i have flown more than you and i dont think you know the definition of bad service.
There’s a high chance i have flown more than you and i dont think you know the definition of bad service.
There’s a high chance i have flown more than you and i dont think you know the definition of bad service.
Nuff Said!
When you say…”I suppose KQ’s P&L will eventually tell us who is right.”
FYI…KQs P& L Statement will NOT conclude who is right or wrong.
A company can be making abnormal profit and still provide horrific service.
PS: I know PanAm is a failed airline. My statement meant that despite the new entrants (Delta and Virgin) weeeee shall not….we shall not be moved!
And dude….just because you have one or two bad experiences with KQ does not mean that they are bad.
Once again…
There’s a high chance i have flown more than you and i dont think you know the definition of bad service.
Bankelele…
Point taken. My bad.
PS: I consider myself a big time risk taker so i dont invest in the NSE or NYSE. Its too risk-averse for me.
My short-term investments in Kenya are in Farming while my long-term will be in Real Estate i.e Building Upscale Apts. for Rent.
Right now i’m saving big time to come to the motherland late next year to talk to HFCK/Banks about getting financing.
Too much information (LOL!)
an airline to watch is hewa bora from DRC . just got some european investors
Don…
You said…”But there was a 24 year old in the cockpit. That is fact that nobody talks about.”
Dude, we dont talk about it coz there’s nothing to talk about.
There are more MAJOR issues to talk about regarding the crash and as Bankelele said…the KQ 507 report is NOT out yet.
You said…”That is why I said they should be flying CARGO.”
Dude…i am a 20-something Female Professional & you come across to me as the type that do NOT give young people a chance!!! Period!!!
As i said…6 years is enough time to get your education…licences…and experience…and even fly people.
I am damn proud that KQ has pilots at age 24!!!!!
My friend (Gen. Mulinge’s grandaughter) is one of them and i’m proud of her accomplishment.
Me
tuliza boli, uwanja mdogo!! you shout too much (i.e. too loud) that we can’t hear you. sure, your coded messages, like being “girlies” with Mulinge’s pilot daughter, is loud and clear. lakini, beware you don’t self-destruct from irrational exuberance of youth.
We-A-Do…
You said…”you shout too much (i.e. too loud) that we can’t hear you.”
You call it shouting…i call it PASSION!…Go Figure!
You said…”being “girlies” with Mulinge’s pilot daughter”
Absolute NONESENSE.
Young Man…lets stay FOCUSED and STICK with the issue at hand.
You said…”beware you don’t self-destruct from irrational exuberance of youth.”
Absolute BS!!!
Dude…Tuheshimiane!!!
Keep the matusis to yourself and tell us something we dont know!!!
Since when did you have the audacity to counsel me?
Substantiate your arguements and STOP getting personal.
They say…”if you can’t take the heat…stay OUT of the kitchen”
Banks
You need to moderate here, we are verging on rudeness, something I have not seen on your blog before.
MEaaaw:
You must be in the wrong forum. There’s a site called mash`a`da where they display juvenile empty noise, you might find it more in sync with your type. Here we only entertain serious thinkers, strategists, and investors; some of whom old enough to be your daddy.
Being rude (or “passionate”) is OK, as long as it’s accompanied by well-endowed grey matter. Before you take a ranting tangent, concentrate on your daunting mission to “save until you are old enough to return to motherland and “beg” the banks for financing your grand investment project.” I’m only afraid most bankers will not be that impressed. All the best.
24yrs old pilot? flying transcontinental jets hehehe now im scared for real.
I consider myself a big time risk taker so i dont invest in the NSE or NYSE.
Its too risk-averse for me.
My short-term investments in Kenya are in Farming while my long-term will be in Real Estate i.e Building Upscale Apts. for Rent.
Right now i’m saving big time to come to the motherland late next year to talk to HFCK/Banks about getting financing.
Too much information (LOL!)
Too much information
This is for you banks:
plane crashed in the Congo and it made the news
KE
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/04/AR2007100400602.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
Drop-My-Load, We-a-do, Not Me…etc
BS!!!…BS!!!…Absolute BS!!!
Your type of comments is the reason why i dont comment on blogs.
(I simply read…watch many people ooooozzzzeee ignorance….and move on)
You guys cant substantiate your arguement and yet you think you have the audacity to counsel me just because i’m your junior.
I may be young…but i’m a bright kid….and there’s a 99.99% chance that i make more money than all of you combined.
You said…I am coming to the mother land to beg the banks????
a. I have my own company so i can step into Kenya whenever i please.
b. I can afford to built apts for CASH if i please…i’m waaaaaaaaaaaay to proud to beg.
You said…”we only entertain serious thinkers, strategists and investors”
oooooppppppssssssssssss
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
In that case…let me return to my juvenile forum a.k.a MASHADA!!!
Dear Me
Oh dear me, how are your KQ shares doing?
Numbers dont lie, my dear, and KQ’s recent profit gaffe only proves what I was saying…or perhaps I dont know what I am talking about?
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