In a significant development for East African aviation, Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sunday, July 6, 2025, signaling their intent to forge a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to bolster connections from Qatar’s Hamad International Airport to key East African capital and business hubs, including Nairobi and Mombasa. The MoU was signed in Doha by Qatar Airways Group CEO, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, and Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Allan Kilavuka. This partnership, featuring a wide codeshare agreement, reflects both airlines' commitment to enhancing air connectivity between Qatar and Kenya.

The newly inked agreement will see Qatar Airways expand its Doha-Nairobi daily operations by adding a third daily flight in codeshare with Kenya Airways. This expansion is designed to meet growing demand and provide more travel options for passengers flying to and from the East African region. Furthermore, the partnership will introduce a new direct connection between Doha and Mombasa. Beginning in the upcoming winter season, Kenya Airways will operate this route, while Qatar Airways will handle its sales and promotion. These initiatives are set to offer passengers seamless connectivity from anywhere in the world to East Africa via Hamad International Airport, one of the globe's most popular aviation hubs.

Beyond passenger services, both airlines are exploring broader collaborative opportunities across various sectors. These include strengthening efforts in cargo operations, airport and ground handling services, product development, loyalty programs, procurement, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. By expanding into these areas, the airlines aim to cultivate a more robust and integrated partnership, promising greater benefits for travelers, businesses, and the global aviation industry at large. This strategic move aligns with Qatar Airways Group CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer’s vision to solidify the carrier's ties with the African continent. Al-Meer remarked, “This partnership is yet another demonstration of our expanding link with the African continent. Today’s agreement, coming on the day we celebrate our 20th year of operations in Kenya, serves to demonstrate our ongoing efforts to enhance Africa’s growing aviation and economic ecosystem.”

The collaboration is part of Qatar Airways’ broader strategy to boost Africa’s burgeoning aviation market and contribute to improving the region’s global connectivity. Kenya Airways, often recognized as “The Pride of Africa,” has recently undergone a remarkable transformation, returning to profitability this year for the first time in over a decade. Group CEO and Managing Director Allan Kilavuka underscored the strategic importance of this new alliance, stating, “This partnership is timely and comes at the exact right time and is in perfect alignment with our solid turnaround strategy that has seen Kenya Airways return to profit. It will accelerate our efforts to grow tourism and cargo operations to position them as key drivers of economic growth for Kenya and the broader East African region.”

Despite lingering global impacts from the pandemic on the aviation industry, alliances such as this one between Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways show significant promise for expanding tourism and trade. Through increased direct flights and enhanced air cargo capabilities, the airlines aim to improve the transportation of people and goods within Africa, the Middle East, and globally. The added frequencies on the Doha-Nairobi routes and the new direct Mombasa-Doha service will benefit both leisure and business travelers. Additionally, their integrated networks will offer more efficient and cost-effective air cargo solutions, crucial for fostering trade growth in East Africa. This new partnership also supports both airlines' missions to contribute to the long-term economic development of East Africa, benefiting local businesses, tourism, and trade. By fostering greater connectivity both globally and within East Africa, Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways are positioned to unlock the region's full aviation potential.

Both Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have established reputations as leaders in their respective fields. Qatar Airways, known for its luxury and first-class service, has garnered numerous accolades, including being voted World’s Best Airline in 2025 by Skytrax. It also boasts an extensive African network, with over 170 weekly departures to 30 African cities. Kenya Airways has consistently been recognized as Africa’s Leading Airline and Business Class by the World Travel Awards for four consecutive years. Its strong standing, combined with this new strategic partnership, positions the carrier to maintain its prominent role in African skies.

Looking ahead, both airlines are committed to ensuring their partnership delivers tangible benefits to their customers. As the collaboration between Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways deepens, their focus will remain on providing seamless customer travel experiences through smoother connections, improved services, and wider choices. In essence, this strategic partnership represents a momentous development for both airlines and the broader aviation industry. By enhancing connectivity, upgrading air cargo facilities, and boosting tourism, the alliance will foster greater coordination between the Middle East and Eastern Africa. As their global networks expand, these airlines will not only shape the future of air travel but also contribute significantly to the economic growth and progress of the regions involved. This partnership exemplifies how the aviation industry can create lasting positive impacts on communities, businesses, and travelers through fostering development, encouraging collaboration, and embracing innovation.