KQ overtakes Ethiopian Airways as Africa’s finest in maintaining time

A Kenya Airways aircraft on the Jomo Kenyatta Worldwide Airport. FILE PHOTO | LUCY WANJIRU | NMG

Kenya Airways (KQ) has emerged essentially the most punctual African flag provider, having made well timed arrivals for over 70 % of its flights in 2023, beating Ethiopian Airways, which has been main for years.

On-time efficiency (OTP) evaluation by aviation analytics agency Cirium reveals that of the 41,905 flights KQ made in 2023, the provider made well timed arrivals in additional than 30,000, giving it a efficiency charge of 71.86 %.

This made KQ essentially the most punctual flag provider on the continent and the second airline in Africa, coming after South Africa-based privately-owned low-cost provider Safair, which accomplished 92.36 % of its flights on time.

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Throughout the Center East and Africa (MEA) area, KQ was ranked the tenth most punctual airline, in an inventory topped by Oman’s flag provider Oman Air, which made well timed arrivals in 92.53 % of all its flights.

That is the primary time KQ has carried out higher than its arch-rival on the continent, Ethiopian Airways (ET), which has held the place of essentially the most punctual flag provider in Africa for the previous 5 years.

In 2022, ET was ranked sixth within the MEA area, and the primary in Africa, having arrived on time in 77.3 % of its flights. KQ didn’t characteristic among the many finest 10. In 2021, ET was ranked fourth within the area and second in Africa, after Safair, with KQ nonetheless lacking within the prime 10. KQ final featured among the many 10 most punctual airways in 2019, when it got here tenth.

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Specialists argue that on-time efficiency has a major impression on revenues and buyer sentiment and satisfaction. “Passenger satisfaction can fluctuate in accordance with the extent of OTP attained by a specific Airline and as a strong device in model advertising campaigns when constantly excessive,” mentioned Anthony Brooks, an plane appraiser.

KQ’s enchancment wasn’t with out shortfalls, nonetheless. It did properly solely through the first 10 months of the yr, however skilled delays in November and December, deteriorating its efficiency in well timed arrivals.

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