Kenya Airways (KQ) has decided to lease out two of its Embraer E190 aircraft to the Democratic Republic of Congo-based (DRC) carrier.
This is part of the codeshare partnership established in April 2021.
Allan Kilavuka, CEO of Kenya Airways, said that the partnership strengthens collaboration and bolsters aviation ties between Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“The agreement will see Kenya Airways lease two Embraer E190 jets to Congo Airways, boosting domestic operations and flight frequencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” Kilavuka said.
“Kenya is seeking to leverage the DRC market by diversifying its export destinations, given the Covid-19-induced disruption, which has highlighted the need for deeper inter-regional trade.”
On the other hand, Congo Airways’ chief executive Pascal Kasongo Mwema said increased air connectivity will offer more choices to passengers in the DRC and between the two countries.
“It will also provide better connectivity to international destinations, enabling both countries to fly to a better future and build a resilient aviation industry that can stand the test of time.”
The East African reports that the Kenyan carrier will save over Ksh100 million ($909,090) annually on maintenance costs and earn additional revenue from leasing the crafts.
