South African Airways Signs Memorandum of Co-operation with Kenya Airways

Barely one week after returning to the skies, South African Airways has signed a memorandum of co-operation with Kenya Airways with a longer-term view to co-starting a Pan-African Airline Group that in time will enhance mutual growth potential by taking advantage of strengths of the two airlines’ busy hubs.

The memorandum will help both airlines improve customer experience by offering a wider range of choices and destinations. The cooperation will also help in the standardization of product and service offering that is in line with current global aviation trends.

Working with Kenya Airways will also harness South African Airways' internal resources and capacities leading to sustainable and cost-effective growth. This includes shared services in the areas of route networks, fleet, and capacity deployment; exploring economic, technical as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul opportunities to achieve economies of scale.

The memorandum will also help the tourism sectors in both countries in time creating the most formidable airline in Africa, benefiting from at least two attractive hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi, and possibly Cape Town.

The next step is for both parties to set up a joint working group to further discuss the memorandum and to put in place systems to achieve their joint stated objectives.

It will be recalled that South African Airways resumed commercial services on 24 September, 2021 following almost 2 years of grounding due to financial difficulties.