By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways, has awarded its top-performing travel agency partners at the Kenya Travel Agents Engagement & Awards 2026 events in Nairobi against the backdrop of the airline’s most significant capacity expansion in a decade.
Kenya Airways plans to grow its fleet from a total of 32 aircraft today to 67 by 2030, and 100 by 2035, supported by an increase in passenger numbers projected to reach 9 million by 2030, up from 5.2 million today. The expansion follows the return of the airline’s Boeing 777, a 400-seat wide-body, to the fleet on 17 July 2026 after a decade’s absence, with the aircraft now flying between Nairobi and London Heathrow.
The 2025 awards, spanning 35 categories, honoured travel agents who demonstrated outstanding performance across revenue contribution, market share, regional sales and growth over the 2025 calendar year, recognising both the airline’s largest partners by volume and the agencies that grew fastest year-on-year.
Agents Central to Airline’s Growth Agenda
Speaking at the Kenya Travel Agents Engagement & Awards 2026 in Nairobi, Capt. George Kamal, Ag. Group Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways, emphasised the central role of travel agents in the airline’s growth and transformation agenda.
“As Kenya Airways approaches our 50-year milestone, our future success will continue to be built through strong relationships and shared success with the travel trade. Travel trade partners are our largest distribution channel in Kenya, contributing approximately 60 percent of our passenger revenue, and we see our growth and yours as one journey,” said Captain Kamal.
Top Performers Recognised
BCD Travel Limited (trading as Highlight Travel) claimed the title of Top Revenue Contributor 2025, with Hemingways Travel and Satguru Tours & Travel Limited placing 1st and 2nd runner-up respectively for revenue contribution.
Incentive Travel Limited earned recognition as Top Travel Marketing Company by Market Share, while Elite Travel Services took the Corporate Revenue Leader award. Ramani Travel Solution Limited emerged as the year’s most improved partner by revenue growth, with Blueberry Voyage Limited placing second in that category.
Winners across the remaining categories spanned South Sudan, NDC bookings, Asia-Pacific, European Union, MEGI, domestic, ECAF, leisure, groups, MICE, government, coastal and western regional segments.
Julius Thairu, Kenya Airways’ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, emphasised the airline’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, improving distribution tools and co-creating value with the travel trade.
The awards ceremony underscores Kenya Airways’ recognition of its travel trade partners as essential drivers of the airline’s commercial success, particularly as the carrier embarks on its most ambitious fleet modernisation and capacity expansion programme in a decade.
