Kenya Airways leases two B777s
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Kenya Airways has signed an agreement with General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the aircraft leasing company, to acquire to two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The two new wide-body jets are expected to join Kenya Airways’ fleet in October 2013 and May 2014 respectively, and will serve long-haul routes to destinations including Bangkok and Guangzhou. Kenya Airways will configure its 777-300ERs with approximately 400 seats – 78 more than its existing 777-200ERs.
“With the increased passenger and cargo capacity that the Boeing 777-300ER offers, we are pleased with this development as it will see Kenya Airways significantly increase tonnage and passenger capacity while enhancing our premium service offering to Europe and the Far East,” said Kenya Airways’ CEO & Group Managing Director, Dr Titus Naikuni.
“The B777-300ER aircraft will be operated by the same crew that fly the B777-200ER aircraft in our current fleet but we envisage that sufficient additional crew will be recruited and/or trained by the time the first aircraft arrive,” Dr Naikuni added.
The deal marks a further stage in the African carrier’s fleet expansion plans; in April this year, Kenya Airways signed a deal with Boeing for nine Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, the first of which is expected to be delivered by Q4 2013.
Pictured (from left): Jay Ireland, GE’s President & CEO for Africa, seals the deal with Dr Titus Naikuni, Kenya Airways’ CEO & Group Managing Director.