Kenya Airways (KQ) and Qatar Airways have announced a major strategic partnership that’s set to change how people travel between Kenya and Qatar.
The two airlines on the 1st of July 2025, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha, setting the stage for deep collaboration across passenger travel, cargo, ground services, loyalty programs, and more.
The core of this partnership is a codeshare agreement that will increase flights between Nairobi and Doha, with Qatar Airways adding a third daily frequency on the route.
The two airlines will also codeshare across each other’s networks, allowing travellers from across the globe to enjoy seamless connections to Kenya, Qatar, and beyond.
What This Means for Travelers Between Doha and Kenya
This partnership is great news for travelers, especially for the growing number of Kenyans working in Qatar and Qatari residents seeking new destinations in Africa.
The partnership also includes new direct flights between Doha and Mombasa by Kenya Airways (marketed by Qatar Airways).
This means more regions of Kenya will now be easily accessible from the Middle East, and specifically pushing tourism in the coast of Kenya, which is known to have some of the best beaches in the world.
This could mean lower fares due to increased competition and capacity, a welcoming sight to a lot of tourists.
Kenya’s Growing Status as a Regional Hub
This deal also shines a spotlight on Kenya’s rising profile as a hub for Middle Eastern carriers. In recent months:
- Etihad Airways resumed direct flights to Nairobi after a long pause.
- flydubai and Air Arabia already operate direct connections between the UAE and Kenya.
- Emirates continues to be a key player with multiple daily flights to Nairobi.
These developments show that Kenya is no longer just a stopover—it’s becoming a destination and a gateway to the rest of Africa.
Kenya Airways Turns a Profit
The partnership comes at a really good time as the airline recently returned a profit for the first time in over a decade.
KQ’s CEO, Allan Kilavuka saying that signing this agreement aligns with the airlines turnaround strategy and will boost tourism and cargo business, two important drivers of Kenya’s economy.
The partnership provides KQ with an opportunity to not only grow its route network but als build capacity in innovation, and procurment.
Why Qatar Airways Is Investing in Africa
Qatar Airways has been expanding across Africa aggressively. With over 170 weekly flights to 30 cities on the continent, the airline is focused on tapping into Africa’s growing travel market.
This partnership with Kenya Airways is part of a wider strategy that includes partnerships with other African carriers like Airlink.
It could also be a way for Qatar Airways to attract more Kenyan travelers to visit Qatar, as many Kenyans travel to its neighbouring country, the UAE for holiday.
