Kenya Airways considers Bombardier CSeries, Embraer E2 order

Kenya Airways is evaluating an order of up to 20 Bombardier CSeries or Embraer E2 regional jets. A decision will be made by the end of this year, CEO Sebastian Mikosz said. “We are talking about 20 aircraft on top of what we have,” he said. Mikosz said one advantage is that Egyptian flag carrier EgyptAir has ordered 12 CS300s and he expects Ethiopian Airlines, as well as a Tanzania-based carrier, will order the CSeries as well. “This would make sense in terms of our maintenance capacity,” Mikosz said. The airline is also evaluating a Boeing 737 MAX order. Separately, Kenya Airways is expanding its network to Europe and Asia when the carrier adds five widebody aircraft in the next 18 months. Mikosz did not reveal the new destinations, but said they would be announced “sometime after the summer.” The carrier is adding the additional capacity as it prepares take back two Boeing 787-8s and three 777-300ERs when the leases expire.<br/>