National carrier Kenya Airways added 430 staff last year despite reduced operations, largely resulting from the grounding of aircraft during the period.
The airline’s workforce reached 5,672 from 5,242 staff at the end of 2024, after it added 67 permanent employees and 363 contracted workers, according to disclosures in its latest 2025 annual report.
The bulk of employee costs, at Sh20.8 billion, comprised wages and salaries, with the balance covering retirement benefit costs, contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and leave pay accruals.
Kenya Airways, known by its international code KQ, saw its operations significantly disrupted by the grounding of three aircraft in the first half of 2025. This reduced passenger numbers and weighed on the airline’s profit prospects.
“During the year, the company grounded three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, representing 33 percent of its wide-body fleet. This reduction in operational capacity adversely affected the airline’s performance, leading to lower passenger numbers and reduced revenue generation,” KQ said in its annual report.
The grounding of the three aircraft meant KQ missed out on the aviation industry’s continued recovery, which was underpinned by strong passenger demand, particularly on international routes.
KQ returned to the red during the period, posting a net loss of Sh17.1 billion in 2025, reversing a net profit of Sh5.4 billion in the year to December 2024 as passenger and freight revenues declined.
Fleet shift
The carrier’s fleet fell to 37 from 43 in 2024, even as KQ added three new aircraft during the period, including one Boeing 737-800 and two Bombardier Dash 8 passenger aircraft.
The additions are part of KQ’s ongoing fleet expansion strategy, under which the airline has committed to increasing its capacity, improving operational efficiency and meeting growing demand for air travel across its network.
The acquisitions were undertaken through lease arrangements, including deposits to manufacturers like Boeing.
The fleet comprises seven Boeing 787 wide-body jets, nine Boeing 737 narrow-body aircraft, seven Embraer regional jets, four Boeing 737 freighters and 10 Bombardier Dash 8-400.
KQ expanded its network in the year despite reduced capacity, increasing destinations from 43 to 47 across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America.
Passenger revenue in 2025 fell to Sh131.3 billion from Sh156 billion a year earlier.
Freight and mail revenue declined to Sh15.4 billion from Sh16.2 billion, while handling revenue slid to Sh2.3 billion from Sh2.5 billion.
KQ said it undertook measures to ensure optimal staffing levels, improve productivity metrics and strengthen cost discipline through its Human Resources Committee.
“During the year, the committee supervised a comprehensive workforce planning exercise, aligning headcount, skills mix and cost structures to the company’s recovery and growth strategy,” KQ said.
