Kenya Airways Signs GECAS Deal for Two 777-300ERs

Kenya Airways has signed an agreement with GECAS, the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, for two Boeing 777-300ERs.

The two aircraft are expected to join the Kenya Airways fleet in October 2013 and May 2014 respectively with them scheduled to operate long haul routes such as Amsterdam, Bangkok, Guangzhou and Dubai in order to maximise both passenger and cargo traffic.

“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 Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director Dr. Titus Naikuni. “This also speaks to Kenya Airways’ efforts of flying a more efficient and environmentally friendly fleet ... 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.”

Kenya Airways will configure its 777-300ER’s with approximately 400 seats which is an extra passenger capacity of about 78 passengers over the 777-200ER. In addition, the aircraft will offer higher volumetric cargo capacity of over 12 tonnes.

In April this year, Kenya Airways and Boeing reached an agreement on an order for nine Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft with the first one expected to be delivered by the fourth quarter of 2013.

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