The national carrier, Kenya Airways, is in discussions to return the leased aircraft in an effort to cut expenses.
According to the airline Managing Director, Allan Kilavuka, they are negotiating with the lessors to be billed when the planes are flying. Otherwise, they are seeking to return the aircraft that are not in use or reduce rentals charges.
The national carrier says currently, one company has already accepted to take a plane that hasn’t been in use.
“We are also requesting the lease firms to allow us to convert some of the aircraft into cargo carriers, especially the Dreamliners and other wide body planes. The cabinet conversion will involve temporarily removal of seats. But it has to be approved by the lessors,” Mr Kilavuka said.
Mr Kilavuka said the low number of travellers had reduced available seat kilometres to 15% compared to last year, a factor that forced the airline to cut the number of aircraft in the skies.
Kenya Airways expects to return to full operations in 2023. By the end of 2020, it will be operating at about 38% capacity and it expects to be operating at 60% capacity by 2022.
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