The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, has announced that the national airline of Kenya and South Africa’s national airline will merge to create a Pan-African Airline.
Kenyatta announced this development during his new year address to Kenyans on December 13, 2021. According to Kenyatta, the merger is equally aimed towards continental integration.
Kenyatta said: “To boost tourism, trade, and social engagement; and to bolster continental integration; our national carrier Kenya Airways will join hands with our partners in South Africa to establish a Pan-African Airline.”
The two Airlines confirmed in a joint statement which read: “One of the pillars to achieve this is coming together and combining assets to provide a more robust and ultimately competitive aviation ecosystem to pursue the commercial viability of both carriers.”
“The partnership will improve the financial viability of both airlines by creating the most formidable air transport connection in Africa.”
The development has been welcomed by the Pan-African community and has been described as a development that will boost collaborative development and create an enabling environment for the implementation of continental free trade.
