Kenya's national carrier Kenya Airways said Monday it would lease three new jets to help the airline expand its domestic and regional routes.

 

A statement from Kenya Airways said it would lease three Embraer 170 jets from GECAS (General Electric Commercial Aviation Services).

 

"As we continue to focus on our network expansion, the selection of the right aircraft type is evidently a key issue. Following a thorough technical and operational evaluation of what the market has to offer, the Embraer 170 was selected as the perfect choice for our environment," said Titus Naikuni, the airline's group managing director and chief executive officer.

 

Naikuni said the first two jets would be delivered in May and June next year and the third one in June 2008. The Embraer 170s will replace the SAAB A340's, which will be retired from the Kenya Airways fleet, he said.

 

"We believe that the performance of the aircraft combined with its outstanding level of cabin comfort and the support service provided by the manufacturer will contribute to the success of Kenya Airways. We are particularly proud to be the first airline in Sub-Sahara Africa to introduce a member of the E-Jet family," Naikuni noted.

 

The aircraft will be configured in a comfortable single class layout sitting 72 passengers at 32-inch pitch. Kenya Airways, one of the most successfully airlines in Africa, has been operating the SAAB on some of its domestic and regional routes.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2006)