Kenya Airways has affirmed that plans to grow its network across Africa were on course, after it officially announced its intent to fly to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso starting July 15th. The new route, the 55th of the airline’s global destinations, will operate via Cotonou, the capital of Benin. The airline will operate the route with a Boeing 737 - 800, twice weekly every Friday and Monday out of Nairobi.

Highlighting the airlines ambition to be the carrier of choice for Africa, Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Dr. Titus Naikuni noted, “Our plans to fly to every Capital in Africa by 2013 and consolidate our route network on the continent are well on course. Ougadougou is the 2nd of the routes that we have opened this year after Ndjamena in Chad, with plans at various stages for a further 6 destinations in the course of this financial year.”

Ougadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation.  The country is landlocked with its primary economic activities being food processing and textile manufacture.

Dr. Naikuni noted that Africa is now acknowledged as the frontier for growth with the continent recording increasing economic activity and trade. He added that Kenya Airways was seeking to diversify its route network throughout Africa in order to tap into the unique opportunities on this very diverse continent.

“Transport is an important factor in economic development because it enables movement of people, goods and services as well as access to markets, especially for landlocked countries. With this African expansion strategy, Kenya Airways is opening up the continent to a world of opportunity,” he explained.

Kenya Airways has appointed a local General Sales Agent (GSA) in Ougadougou to oversee its operations in the new market. In addition, the airline has set up its own sales and station office ahead of the July 15th inaugural flight.

To support its route expansion strategy, the airline recently announced the signing of an agreement to take delivery of nine (9) Boeing Dreamliner aircrafts. KQ also signed a letter of intent with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer seeking to purchase 10 E190 jets. In addition, Kenya Airways took delivery of a 2nd Embraer E-190 jet early this month; bring the airline’s total current fleet to 32 aircraft.