Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways Unite to Serve 19 New Destinations

Airline partners Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have unveiled an ambitious expansion of their partnership, introducing a codeshare program that will connect 19 new destinations. This marks a significant step following their recently signed agreement, with promises of further routes to be added shortly.

On October 20, 2025, the two airlines made headlines by announcing these codeshare flights, allowing Kenya Airways customers to easily book travel between Nairobi and Doha, along with access to ten other destinations via the Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha.

Qatar Airways passengers will equally benefit from this partnership, gaining access to eight destinations within Kenya Airways’ network. This includes seamless connections via the three daily flights between Doha and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Travel on these codeshare flights will commence on October 26, 2025, coinciding with the start of the IATA 2025/26 winter scheduling season.

Effective from the launch date, Kenya Airways will offer codeshare options on routes operated by Qatar Airways, including major destinations such as Bahrain, Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Malé, Muscat, Singapore, and Tokyo-Narita.

This new development will enable Qatar Airways to enhance its presence within the African continent significantly, providing better access for passengers from over 170 global destinations to key leisure and business spots served by Kenya Airways.

Additionally, Qatar Airways will offer codeshare flights on routes servicing eight African destinations, including Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Accra (Ghana), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Lilongwe (Malawi), Livingstone (Zambia), Juba (South Sudan), Nampula (Mozambique), and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).

Thierry Antinori, Chief Commercial Officer of Qatar Airways, expressed his satisfaction with the swift advancements made since the partnership’s inception with Kenya Airways. He emphasized that this enhancement underscores their dedication to strengthening their presence in Kenya and across the African continent.

Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, Julius Thairu, also shared his enthusiasm for this new phase of collaboration. Thairu noted that the partnership will significantly improve connectivity across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, broadening flight options for travelers and enhancing their overall travel experience.

The two airlines plan to continue their cooperation in various areas, including codeshares, airport operations, lounges, sustainability initiatives, and procurement. Future phases may involve collaboration in network development, cargo operations, as well as aircraft maintenance and repairs.

Earlier in January 2025, Kenya Airways embarked on another significant partnership with Air India, establishing a codeshare agreement for flights between India and Africa. This collaboration, announced on January 30, 2025, further solidified the commitment between the airlines and expanded their interline agreement.

As travel evolves, how do you see such partnerships transforming the way we book flights and explore new destinations?