Kenya’s national airline is planning to base up to three Embraer E190 regional jets at Accra’s Kotoka International Airport as part of a strategic push to deepen its West African network, according to industry reporting.
The move is part of a broader initiative by Kenya Airways to establish secondary hubs beyond its Nairobi base, aiming to shrink connectivity gaps within West Africa and link Ghana more tightly into intercontinental routes. A similar strategic rationale was noted by Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka in comments reported by Aviation Week Network.
Why Accra Matters for Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways has long maintained scheduled services between Nairobi and Accra using Boeing narrow-body aircraft. Establishing a local base of Embraer E190 aircraft would allow:
- Increased frequencies on short-to-medium-haul intra-African routes
- Enhanced connectivity between West Africa and Kenya’s wider network
- A stepping stone toward stronger regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
The E190 jets are well-suited to regional sectors, balancing capacity and operating economics on thinner routes compared to larger narrowbodies.
Strategic Rationale and Competitive Context
Kenya Airways faces competitive and financial pressures as it seeks to grow profitably. Recent financial disclosures highlighted the need for sustainable expansion even as the airline pursues capital raising plans for fleet modernization.
By placing Embraer jets in Accra, Kenya Airways may capture intra-African traffic that otherwise requires indirect connections or competitors’ services, particularly in the rapidly developing West African market.
Operational and Network Impact
If implemented, the Accra base could:
- Support new point-to-point service opportunities across West Africa
- Improve Kenya Airways’ codeshare leverage with regional partners
- Position Accra as a mini-regional hub, analogous to secondary hubs seen in parts of Europe and Asia
Industry observers note that while the strategy differs from fully franchised joint ventures (as seen with Ethiopian Airlines and ASKY in Togo), it reflects a lean network growth model anchored around existing airline assets.
What’s Next?
Discussions with Ghanaian authorities remain ongoing, and a formal agreement on the Accra hub proposal is expected in 2026. A successful hub launch would mark a major milestone in Kenya Airways’ intra-continental strategy as the airline continues to balance network growth with economic recovery efforts.
Source
- ch-aviation, Kenya Airways to start Accra base with three E190s (16 Dec 2025)
- Aviation Week Network, Kenya Airways pursues secondary hub strategy within Africa (12 Dec 2025)
