Emirates Airlines celebrates 30 years of operating flights to Nairobi

• Emirates Airlines is celebrating 30 years of its presence in Nairobi, connecting Kenya to more than 145 destinations and carrying more than 6.6 million passengers.
• The partnership with Kenya Airways boosts regional tourism and trade, while Emirates SkyCargo supports key flower exports.
• The airline continues to invest in Kenya by creating jobs, enhancing the passenger experience and supporting local humanitarian organisations.

Emirates Airlines celebrates 30 years of success with its flights to Nairobi, Kenya. Since the inaugural flight in October 1995, Emirates has transported more than 6.6 million passengers to and from the country through more than 34,250 flights.

Emirates serves Nairobi, one of the fastest growing cities in Africa, with more than 145 countries on its extensive global network, and is served by two daily flights with Boeing 777 aircraft, facilitating trade and tourism. Last year, the main traffic was from Asia and Australia, including South Korea, China, Thailand and Australia, as well as very long-haul passengers traveling from the United States. Outbound traffic is similar, with travelers from Kenya visiting destinations such as Shanghai and Beijing, China; Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; Seattle, New York and Washington.

To expand their joint presence, Emirates and Kenya Airways, Kenya’s flag carrier, have signed a joint partnership in 2023, providing seamless routes on a single ticket and opening connectivity to some of the most sought-after tourist destinations in East Africa. In the past two years, 31,000 passengers have benefited from this partnership – with nearly 50/50 between Kenya Airways passengers and Emirates passengers. The most popular destinations for Emirates passengers outside Nairobi are Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro), Mozambique and Burundi.

Christophe Leloup, Emirates Country Director for Kenya, said: “Since its launch, Nairobi has remained one of the most consistently busiest destinations on our African network, not only with international tourists but also with corporate travelers connecting with one of the continent’s major economic hubs. Over the past three decades, we have steadily and strategically expanded our operations both in the sky and on the ground to provide our world-famous experience in Kenya. We are proud to play a key role in Kenya. Flight, Tourism and Trade and we remain committed. destination for decades to come.

Nairobi is home to the first Emirates Worldwide Travel Store (https://apo-opa.co/43AdhpA) in Africa, which opened its doors and introduced the airline’s reimagined retail concept in 2024. Centrally located in the ultra-modern Cube, Riverside Drive, the store offers customers expert travel advice, immersive displays and the upscale airline experience.

Since its first flight, Emirates has provided an outstanding experience for passengers, and to date it remains the only airline serving Kenya with private, enclosed cabins in First Class. The company also offers one of the best baggage allowances in the market, starting at two bags weighing 23 kg each in Economy Class and two bags weighing 32 kg each in First Class and Business Class per passenger. Passengers in each cabin can enjoy regionally inspired menus prepared by award-winning chefs, and more than 6,500 entertainment channels, including Kenyan movies, TV shows and music.

Kenya and the United Arab Emirates enjoy deep-rooted and mutually beneficial bilateral and economic relations, most notably the signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement earlier this year. Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of Emirates Airlines, has played a major role in facilitating global trade with Kenya, as it operates three cargo aircraft weekly to Nairobi, in addition to the capacity of passenger aircraft. Kenya is one of the world’s top four flower-producing countries, growing popular buds such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums. In 2024, Emirates SkyCargo transported more than 16,000 tons of cut flowers, transporting them from farm to florist in less than 24 hours.

Emirates has also created job opportunities, both with its 50-strong staff in Nairobi and across its global operations. More than 1,100 Kenyans work with the Emirates Group in a variety of different roles, from human resources, sales and marketing to the flight deck. 254 of these employees work as part of Emirates’ multinational cabin crew community, and a further 41 work as pilots, traveling around the world with the world’s largest international airline.

In addition to its operations, Emirates supports three Kenyan humanitarian organizations focused on child welfare through the Emirates Airline Foundation. The Little Prince Nursery and Primary School provides comprehensive education and rehabilitation for children, and the Foundation has been supporting its meal program since 2014; Alfajiri Street Kids offers a safe space and a range of programs focused on art therapy for over 200 children; Finally, the foundation sponsors four-year scholarships for ten students at the Starihi Boys Center, which provides academic support to underprivileged boys and includes a high school and multiple higher education programs.