Kenya Airways will hire pilots as fleet expands, CEO says

Kenya Airways may hire as many as 100 pilots annually as the company grows its fleet and adds as many as 20 new routes in the next five years, CEO Sebastian Mikosz said. Sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest carrier is facing “significant operational challenges” and needs as many as 70 additional first officers and 50 captains to operate its current fleet of 40 aircraft, along with new aircraft it plans to acquire, Mikosz said. The airline is preparing to take back five aircraft sub-leased to Oman Air Transport and Turkish Airlines from October and needs more people to fly them, he said. “We believe this is the only way to use the fleet we are getting back and eventually any new fleet, and we have to do it now,” Mikosz said. The company has trained 80 pilots so far, and is exploring the hiring of foreign pilots on contract terms to plug the gap created by retirements, departures and resignations. The carrier could source some experienced foreign pilots in order to save on training costs, according to Gerald Muriuki, an analyst at Genghis Capital Ltd. Still, the Kenya Pilots Union may oppose the hiring of foreign pilots, he said. Foreign airlines that may be a source of pilots include struggling South African Airways, Mikosz said. <br/>