Doha / Nairobi, October 20, 2025 – Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have announced the launch of codeshare flights to19 destinations across their combined networks effective October 26, 2025. The agreement, which follows a memorandum of understanding signed in July, includes a third daily Doha–Nairobi service.
Tickets go on sale October 21. The partnership strengthens connectivity between East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and marks another step in Qatar Airways’ broader Africa growth strategy.
A Deeper Gulf–Africa Link
The deal allows Kenya Airways passengers to connect through Doha to 10 long-haul destinations across Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Qatar Airways customers will gain access to 8 regional cities through Kenya Airways’ network.
The new third daily Qatar Airways Doha–Nairobi flight will support smoother onward connections in both directions and give both airlines greater scheduling flexibility.
Kenya Airways codeshares on Qatar Airways routes include Bahrain, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Doha (Qatar), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Islamabad and Karachi (Pakistan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Malé (Maldives), Muscat (Oman), Singapore, and Tokyo Narita (Japan).
Qatar Airways codeshares on Kenya Airways routes include Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Accra (Ghana), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Lilongwe (Malawi), Livingstone (Zambia), Juba (South Sudan), Nampula (Mozambique), and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).
Announcing the partnership, Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said:
“We are pleased with the significant progress made in just a few months since the partnership initiated with Kenya Airways, and this enhancement is a testament of the collaborative efforts which further strengthens our presence in Kenya and the African continent. The recent addition of Qatar Airways’ third daily flight to Nairobi also serves as another cornerstone of this partnership that is driven by strong demand from passengers seeking reliable and seamless connectivity.”
Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, Julius Thairu, welcomed the partnership:
“We are excited to embark on this new chapter of our partnership with Qatar Airways. This partnership will significantly enhance connectivity especially across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, expanding our flight offerings, and opening up a world of new destinations for our customers to explore. Together with Qatar Airways, we are dedicated to providing our customers with easy access to a variety of destinations, paired with better connectivity and a seamless travel experience.”
Strategic Context
The partnership fits within Qatar Airways’ push to expand its African footprint through local alliances rather than new stand-alone routes. Similar to its cooperation with RwandAir, the Kenya Airways deal gives Qatar Airways stronger coverage in East Africa while leveraging Nairobi as a growing regional hub.
By aligning with Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways secures a foothold in a high-growth region without adding direct capacity or duplicating services already offered by a local partner.
For Kenya Airways, the timing is important. The carrier has returned to profitability and is working to restore capacity after several challenging years. Access to Qatar Airways’ long-haul network and transit traffic is expected to support yield recovery and diversify revenue streams. With this partnership, Kenya Airways gains global reach and the commercial backing of one of the world’s strongest hub carriers.
Beyond Passenger Traffic
Both airlines have signaled that the agreement extends beyond shared flights. The July MoU outlined plans for cooperation in cargo, ground handling, maintenance, and loyalty programs. Cargo in particular could be a strong pillar, given Doha’s position as a global freight hub and Kenya’s exports in perishables and flowers.
The collaboration also supports wider economic ties between Kenya and Qatar, which have deepened in recent years through aviation, trade, and tourism links.
Image courtesy of Kenya Airways
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