The partnership, set to take effect on October 26, 2025. /KQ/XKenya Airways has announced a new codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways that will allow passengers to access 19 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The partnership, set to take effect on October 26, 2025, marks a significant expansion of connectivity between the two airlines’ networks.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, KQ said the collaboration will enhance travel convenience and flexibility for passengers by enabling easier connections through Nairobi and Doha.
"Our customers can now access 11 global destinations via Doha, while Qatar Airways passengers will connect to 8 African cities through Nairobi, supported by Qatar Airways’ new third daily flight between Doha and Nairobi," Kenya Airways said.
The codeshare will reduce total travel time for passengers connecting between Africa and Asia and lower overall travel costs by eliminating the need for multiple separate bookings.
Travellers will also benefit from smoother baggage transfers and more synchronised flight schedules with minimum or zero layovers.
The deal has drawn enthusiastic reactions from the public, with many welcoming it as a major step in improving regional and international connectivity.
“Fantastic development! This partnership between Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways will make travel between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia even more seamless,” one X user commented.
Another described the announcement simply as “momentous,” reflecting the growing optimism among passengers eager for more efficient global travel options.
Some Kenyans linked the announcement to a sense of national pride, coming days after the national carrier played a crucial role after the country lost former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“After the heshima you gave us (as a country) during Raila’s period, I wish you nothing but the best,” one user wrote in reference to KQ's facilitation of the repatriation of Raila's body and, according to him water salute on landing at JKIA.
Others offered brief but warm endorsements, with one user summing it up as “Nice.”
The agreement is part of Kenya Airways’ ongoing strategy to strengthen its global reach through strategic partnerships rather than direct route expansion.
The airline already has codeshare arrangements with carriers, including Air France, Precision Air, Saudi Arabia Airlines, British Airways, JamboJet, Egypt Air, South Africa Airways, Royal Air Maroc, among others.
"To offer our guests a wider choice of destinations, Kenya Airways has partnered with various airlines. You will still have a Kenya Airways flight number; however, for a segment of the journey, you will fly one of our partners," KQ says on its website.
For Qatar Airways, the partnership further cements its position as a key gateway between Africa and the rest of the world, building on its existing network of over 170 destinations.
The collaboration could also help boost tourism, trade and investment by simplifying access to key business and leisure hubs across the shared regions.
With operations beginning next week, travellers are set to benefit from greater route flexibility and the convenience of a single ticket for journeys that previously required multiple stops or carriers.
