Nairobi, 20 October 2025 — Kenya Airways (KQ) and Qatar Airways have announced the launch of a new codeshare partnership that will significantly enhance connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, Asia and beyond.
The agreement marks the first major milestone since the two national carriers signed a strategic partnership in July. It coincides with Qatar Airways’ introduction of a third daily flight between Doha and Nairobi, further strengthening air links between Kenya and the Gulf region.
Under the new arrangement, Qatar Airways passengers will gain seamless access to eight new destinations across Africa via Nairobi, including Juba (South Sudan), Lilongwe (Malawi), Livingstone (Zambia) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). Kenya Airways customers, in turn, will be able to book flights to 11 global destinations operated by Qatar Airways through its Doha hub, such as Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore, Male (Maldives) and Tokyo (Japan).
Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, Julius Thairu, said the expanded partnership underscores the airline’s focus on improving connectivity and customer convenience.
“This partnership will enhance connectivity across Africa and Asia, expand our network, and open up a world of new destinations for our customers. Together with Qatar Airways, we are committed to offering better travel experiences and creating more opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange,” he said.
Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, highlighted that Africa remains a key growth market for the carrier.
“Our partnership with Kenya Airways reinforces our commitment to connecting Africa with the rest of the world through our Doha hub. By combining our extensive networks, we are creating new opportunities for travellers and strengthening economic ties between our regions,” he said.
Beyond passenger services, both airlines have indicated that future phases of the partnership will explore broader cooperation across cargo operations, ground handling, lounge access, fleet maintenance, procurement, sustainability initiatives and loyalty programmes.
The codeshare agreement officially opens for sale on 15 October 2025, with travel commencing from 26 October 2025.
The announcement follows Kenya Airways’ recent success at the 2025 World Travel Awards, where it was named Africa’s Leading Airline among four top honours. Qatar Airways was recently recognised as the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax for a record ninth time.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: KENYA AIRWAYS
