Kenya Airways is working to return grounded aircraft to service ahead of the mid-year peak, after a difficult 2025 in which capacity shortages pushed the airline back into loss.
Results released in late March show the carrier posted an operating loss of KSh5.6 billion, equivalent to about US$43 million, and a net loss of KSh17.1 billion for the year. Revenue fell 14% to KSh161 billion, as aircraft availability issues reduced capacity and weighed on passenger traffic.
The airline carried 4.6 million passengers in 2025, down from 5.2 million a year earlier. Available seat capacity declined by 18%, a shortfall management linked mainly to aircraft groundings caused by ongoing supply chain disruption and a shortage of engines.
Long-haul operations were hit especially hard. Several widebody aircraft, including multiple Boeing 787 Dreamliners, were grounded during the year, restricting Kenya Airways’ ability to serve high-yield intercontinental markets.
Management is now focused on gradually rebuilding the fleet. Since December, the airline has brought back three aircraft to service, including two Boeing 737s and one Embraer 190. Several others remain out of operation while the carrier waits for engine deliveries or the completion of maintenance work.
More engines are expected in the coming months, which should allow both regional and long-haul aircraft to return progressively. Kenya Airways is aiming to enter the summer peak with most of its fleet back in service, leaving only a limited number of aircraft unavailable before a fuller recovery later in the year.
Chairman Kiprono Kittony said the weak financial result was driven primarily by operational constraints rather than weak demand, suggesting the airline still sees healthy appetite in the market. The carrier is also looking to benefit from traffic shifts created by geopolitical disruption affecting competing hubs elsewhere.
The next few months will be critical. Airlines typically generate a large share of their annual earnings during peak travel periods, meaning any further delay in restoring aircraft could lock in more revenue losses. Even as capacity returns, Kenya Airways will still need to rebuild network consistency and win back passenger confidence after a year of disruption.
