Kenya Airways is gearing up to reestablish its foothold in the Southeast Asian market with the announcement of the resumption of scheduled services to Thailand. The airline has opened reservations for its Nairobi – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Guangzhou route, with the commencement date set for November 21, 2023. The new route will be serviced by the reliable Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, and passengers can expect three weekly flights on this route.
This strategic move marks Kenya Airways’ return to the Thai market showcasing a significant shift in its network operations. The newly introduced service will effectively replace the existing Nairobi – Guangzhou nonstop flight.
Flight Details:
– Flight KQ886: Nairobi (NBO) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Guangzhou (CAN)
– Departure: 23:59 NBO, Arrival: 13:30+1 BKK, 14:40+1 CAN
– Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
– Flight KQ887: Guangzhou (CAN) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Nairobi (NBO)
– Departure: 21:40 CAN, Arrival: 23:35 BKK, 01:00+1 NBO
– Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Passengers traveling on the route will have the chance to enjoy the carrier’s onboard Dreamliner experience, which has 204 economy class and 30 business class seats.
This announcement follows Kenya Airways’ earlier decision in February 2023, when it suspended its flights to Thailand due to market dynamics. The airline had been operating a bi-weekly service between Nairobi and Bangkok, utilizing the advanced Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. Observers noted that reservations for this route ceased to be available, and schedules from March 26, 2023, were marked for potential adjustments.
In response to this shift, the SkyTeam Alliance carrier strategized to strengthen its Nairobi – Guangzhou route, emphasizing a nonstop flight between these two vital cities. The inaugural nonstop flight took to the skies on February 18, 2023, with an initial frequency of two weekly flights. This frequency was set to increase to three flights per week from February 27, 2023, that helped in bridging the gap between the African continent and the bustling markets of China.
The rationale behind the decision to withdraw from the Thai market and bolster the Guangzhou connection was rooted in a variety of factors such as demand fluctuations and economic viability which could have played a role in shaping this strategic shift.
