Kenya Airways operating performance; 3RD Qtr – Oct To Dec 2010

The company put into the market place capacity totalling 3,343m seat kilometres which was 5.2% better than last year's level as a result of two new destinations launched in the third quarter to Rome and Malindi.

Capacity offered into Europe registered a 2.5% growth compared to the same quarter of prior year. The Middle East, Far East and Asia regions grew by 2.6% compared to last year largely due to the introduction of Muscat flights via Dubai. The minimal growth was due to the operation of the smaller B767 instead of the larger B777.

The Northern Africa region grew by 16.9% in capacity owing to the introduction of flights into Juba in Southern Sudan on the Embraer aircraft and Djibouti. Capacity availed into the East African region reduced by 7.4% compared to same period last year. This was a result of reduced frequencies in the major routes mainly Bujumbura, Kigali direct and Zanzibar as a result of better synchronization of KQ schedules with that of Precision Air. There was however, increased connections and frequency on both Kigali via Bujumbura and Antananarivo routes.

The highest seat kilometre increase into the network was registered in the Domestic Front which at 29.1% growth was due to 10 additional frequencies into Mombasa branded Mombasa Shuttle during the festivities and an average of four daily frequencies into Kisumu. Capacity offered in the Central Africa region remained at par with the same period last year despite the successful launches of Malabo and Bangui via Douala and Kisangani connecting through Entebbe. The capacity into West Africa grew by 15.7% mainly in Lagos and Bamako Dakar route that were served by B737-800.

Uptake of total production at 2,333m revenue passenger kilometres represents a 8.9% growth compared to last year while the total passenger tally, which closed on 829,263 increased by 7.3%. The resulting average cabin factor improved from last year's level of 67.8% to 69.8%.

Cargo tonnage at 15,195 was at par with prior year's level of 15,246 due to capacity constraints as a result of narrow body operations on most intra-african routes and competition with passenger and passenger baggage on core feed/de-feed routes.

Passenger uplift to Europe at 102,493 indicates a 5.4% year on year growth backed by a 2.5% capacity growth resulting to 73.5% occupancy level which is 1.7 points higher than prior year.

In the Middle East, Far East and Asia regions passenger traffic increased marginally by 1.8% against a capacity growth of 2.6%. The realised cabin factor of 76.8% was 5.6 points better than prior year.

Within Africa but excluding Kenya, total enplanements totalled 439,555 indicating growth of 4.2% compared to a 7.2% capacity growth, thus the resultant passenger cabin factor of 63.0% was ahead of prior year's level of 61.6%.

Passengers uplifted within Kenya at 163,201 showed a marked improvement compared to prior year's level of 133,301. The resulting cabin factor of 70.3% was however, lower than 75.9% achieved last year.