Kenya Airways announced on Monday that demand for seats on its flights has surged amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, with most of the growth coming from Europe, the U.S., and Asia.
The conflict between the U.S. and Israel against Iran has disrupted global aviation, prompting several carriers to raise fares, adjust flight schedules to avoid Middle Eastern airports, or cancel certain routes entirely.
Load factors on Kenya Airways flights have jumped from around 70% in January to nearly 100%, according to Acting CEO George Kamal.
“We were like this … until February. Then it significantly increased. We reached up to 90% total, 90, 99,” Kamal told reporters. “The most we see the gains are coming from Europe, from the U.S. and Asia. Those routes are contributing positively, very positively, to our network now.”
The airline currently has about 56 days of jet fuel supply and is making efforts to secure additional fuel from India, according to Paul Njoroge.
The surge in demand highlights the knock-on effects of geopolitical tensions on international travel, with airlines adjusting operations to meet shifting passenger needs while managing fuel logistics amid rising global energy prices.
