Enduring lessons for Africa from KQ’s financial turnaround

Kenya Airways planes at JKIA

Kenya Airways planes on the taxi bay at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

Kenya Airways return to profit after an 11-year drought, is emblematic of the challenges and opportunities of African Aviation. It also demonstrates that if it takes a professional approach, Africa has the talent to manage and turn round most of its pressing problems.

Home to 18 percent of the world’s population, Africa accounts for a paltry 2.2 percent of global air passenger traffic. The miniscule number combined with positive economic growth rates and a young population are often presented as evidence of the unmet need and therefore opportunity for growth of air transport.