Kenya Airways Partners with UK Company to Launch Drone Operations in Kenya
Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to launch drone operations in the country as part of its plan to diversify income sources.
The national carrier signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UK-based logistics company Skyports to collaborate in launching drone services in the country.
The move comes weeks after the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) received a green light to operationalize the Civil Aviation (Regulatory Fees and Charges for Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2020, which were passed by the National Assembly on March 6th, 2021.
The approval cleared the way for the full enforcement of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) regulatory framework in Kenya.
Since then, several local and foreign companies have revealed plans to launch drone operations in Kenya, among them Astral Aviation, which is seeking to use drones in traffic management, training of drone pilots, and mapping activities.
Through a joint statement, KQ and Skyports said they are looking for ways to commercialize using drones in the next three months.
“The partnership aims to explore the commercial viability and impact of various medical, logistical, and inspection use cases alongside Kenya's leading public and private institutions with the launch of the first drone delivery flights slated for Q3-Q4 this year,” they said.
Commenting on the partnership with Skyporst, KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka said, “It will give us access to available equipment and established operations that will lay the foundation for the Kenyan and regional drone market through our drone and emerging aviation technology subsidiary, Fahari Aviation."
On his part, Skyports CEO Duncan Walker noted, "Our partnership with Kenya Airways can unlock significant opportunities for drone deliveries and inspections in Kenya, creating time and cost savings for our customers and contribute to the growth of the country's tech and aviation ecosystem.”
Comments (4)
What?? Ujinga gani hii!!! This KQ cant even get profitable last 5 years and is now shifting focus on sky drones. Hiyo drone itaanguka on wananchi's heads or windshields and cause havoc.
That Allan Kilavuka is the biggest CEO loser in kenya that needs to be hogtied and thrown in Mathare river to save kenyan taxpayers hard earned money. He is one of the top 10 highest paid CEOs yet KQ made huge losses and is under financial rescue from kenyans last 4 years. We no longer own those planes as they have been repoed by the banks or Boeing and its gonna get worse.
Piga risasi hawa wasaliti and rid the nation of these rotten sellouts and their foreign kaburu masters.
I was expecting to read they will be using drones to take food to remote areas in Kenya and other basic necessities.
Mundu, KQ should stop flying planes and fly drones instead.
For the sake of saving kenyan future generations billions, that would be a good idea. Unfortunately, hata hapo, they are DOA. The drones are owned by Skyport UK kaburus who just see an opportunity to profit from dumb wafrikas.
Either way, I dont see the industry remaining the same in 20 years. Any smart teen can build these things from their own 3D printer bedroom, order the motor from china, slap on the Open source software TODAY for cheap. Imagine when AI and 6G is added, you just order the satellites to do all the navigation work for you, similar to how google maps routes ways for you. Entry barriers will be much simpler than building planes.
You recall, just a few years ago some secret group sent out a kamikaze drone swarm to saudis, dropped explosives on their oil rigs and took out oil supply for months. Exciting future ahead!