Kenya Airways axes 600 jobs in restructure after heavy losses

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It looks like it’s all change at Kenya Airways. Following a $251m operating loss for the year ending March 2015, the airline is scrabbling for cash and plans savings of $200m. It has sold land; scrapped plans to invest in its Nairobi hub, which would have improved its cargo facilities; sold airport slots, including at Heathrow, netting it $30m; and has announced plans to cut 600 workers. It has not yet stated which divisions will lose out, and is currently in discussions with unions. The carrier has also made changes to its fleet to cut $7m a month in costs. It has reduced the number of aircraft from 52 to 36 – including removing five 777s, and two 787s.

Meanwhile, 36 other transport providers have applied to operate flights in Nairobi, including Global Africa Aviation, the re-incarnation of Avient/AV Cargo, which wants to operate between Harare and Nairobi, according to local media.