Kenya Airways boosts fleet

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Kenya Airways said on Monday that it's due to receive the first of three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in October to begin service in November as the airline boosts its fleet to meet increased route expansion.

The airline CEO Titus Naikuni said the aircraft which has a seating capacity of 400 and long-range flying capability will also offer brilliant passenger experience.

"The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is a perfect fit for our network expansion plans as it will enable us to serve our existing markets much more effectively and facilitate the opening of new long-haul routes in the near future," Naikuni added.

The move comes as the national carrier plans to launch direct flights in November to China's commercial city of Guangzhou to reap from the growing Sino-Africa relations.

The non-stop flight which will commence in Nov. 19 on its Boeing 777-300ER will be introduced between Nairobi and Guangzhou.

Naikuni said China has emerged as a key trading partner for Africa, adding that Kenya Airways' planned flights to Guangzhou will build on this connection.

"Our direct flights to Guangzhou seek to build on this relationship in order to make a contribution towards sustainable development of Africa, which is in line with our core purpose as a company," Naikuni said on Aug. 28.

The Boeing 777-300ER will be the fourth aircraft that the national carrier will receive this year, after three Embraer 190 jets delivered in January, February and August, respectively.

Two more B777-300ER aircraft are expected to be delivered in mid-2014. Naikuni said the new state-of-the-art aircraft B777- 300ER will be the largest in the airline's fleet to date.

The latest acquisition is part of Kenya Airways' 10-year strategic plan to expand its fleet size from the current 44 to 107 aircraft by 2021 and increase destinations from the current 62 to 115.

The airline has also ordered nine Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the first of which is to be delivered in early 2014.

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