Increase in Jet Fuel Purchases Signals Recovery for Airlines

Last year, airlines in Kenya experienced an 11.1 percent increase in jet fuel purchases, indicating a rise in trips and a recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics revealed that airlines bought 661,100 tonnes of jet fuel in 2021, a significant leap from the previous year's 594,520 tonnes. While this is the highest volume of jet fuel sales since 2020, it still falls short of the 699,400 tonnes sold in 2019, illustrating that the aviation industry has not fully returned to its pre-pandemic state.

Over the past three years, the aviation sector in Kenya has been on an upward trend, with annual increases in passenger numbers and cargo volumes boosting the industry. Despite facing challenges such as heightened jet fuel prices, airlines have seen a growth in travelers visiting Kenya through major airports like Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport, with a 25.6 percent increase in visitors recorded last year. Additionally, the Kenyan aviation industry witnessed a rise in the total number of takeoffs, landings, and overflights to 323,421 in 2022, marking a third consecutive annual increase.

The growth in air travel activity within Kenya's airspace has been attributed to the recovery in economic activities and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, as stated in the Economic Survey, 2023 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. This positive trend has not only benefited existing airlines but has also attracted new players such as India's IndiGo and West African ASKY Airlines, which commenced flights to and from Kenya in the previous year.