Etihad to Triple Nairobi Flights by December as Kenya Emerges Key African Market
- Etihad Airways announced plans to triple its Nairobi flights to 14 weekly flights by December 2025
- The expansion followed strong demand since the route was relaunched in December 2024, with load factors exceeding 90% in the third quarter of 2025
- Etihad vice president, Javier Alija, said the move reflects Kenya’s growing global importance and the airline’s confidence in the market
Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Nairobi, Kenya – Etihad Airways is significantly increasing its service to Nairobi, tripling the number of weekly flights from four to 14 by December 15, 2025.
Source: UGC
The plan is expected it the airline with the highest frequency to any destination in Africa.
Why Etihad Airways increases operations in Kenya
The announcement made on Thursday, August 21, underlined the UAE flag carrier’s confidence in the booming Kenyan travel market and its strategic importance to Etihad’s broader expansion in Africa.
Etihad Vice President of Global Sales and Distribution Javier Alija reaffirmed the airline’s long-term commitment to Kenya.
“We are here to emphasise how important this market is to Etihad. The strong demand confirms our decision to significantly increase capacity on this route,” said Alija in the event attended by TUKO.co.ke.
The move came less than a year after Etihad relaunched the Nairobi route in December 2024.
The route has seen remarkable growth, with load factors exceeding 90% in the third quarter of 2025.
“To go from launch to double daily frequency in just one year is unprecedented for us. It is a testament to the strength and diversity of the Kenyan market,” he said.
The vice president noted that from October 2025, the airline will increase its service to eight weekly flights, before expanding operations to two daily flights in mid-December.
Source: UGC
What's the seat capacity for Etihad Nairobi route
The expanded schedule will add more than 1,600 additional seats per week, bringing the total capacity on the route to over 2,200 seats per week.
Alija highlighted the attractiveness of Kenya’s dynamic economy and international tourism profile, emphasising the strong traffic in both directions.
“Kenya is not only a world-renowned tourist destination, but its growing middle class is increasingly travelling abroad — both for business and leisure,” he said.
Apart from passenger demand, the Nairobi route is part of Etihad's broader growth strategy in Africa.
The Nairobi service also improves connectivity via Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub, which connects East Africa to over 80 global destinations, including London, Paris, and Mumbai.
“Abu Dhabi is not the final destination for many of our passengers, but a gateway,” Alija explained.
Although cargo traffic is still limited due to the use of narrow-body aircraft, Alija confirmed strong demand, particularly for Kenyan exports.
He also pointed to upcoming product enhancements, noting that Nairobi will benefit from Etihad’s new fuel-efficient A321XLR aircraft in the future.
Alija said Etihad’s edge lies in exceptional service to the guests around the world.
“Everyone can buy the same aircraft. What makes us different is how we treat our guests,” he said.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
