The national carrier beat major continental rivals to retain the top award during the 33rd World Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on Friday, August 28.

KQ was also named Africa’s Leading Airline Economy Class 2026, while its flagship Pride Lounge at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was crowned Africa’s Leading Airline Lounge.

Its inflight magazine, Msafiri, completed the four-award haul after being named Africa’s Leading Inflight Magazine 2026.

The honours recognise different parts of the passenger experience, from the airline’s overall proposition and economy cabin to the airport lounge and the magazine accompanying travellers during their journeys.

The overall airline award is particularly significant for KQ, which has retained the continental title for a third consecutive year, having also won it in 2024 and 2025.

The World Travel Awards listed Air Algérie, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, South African Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines and Tunisair among the nominees for the overall airline category.

Kenya Airways Acting Chief Executive Officer Capt. George Kamal said the recognition reflected the efforts of the airline’s employees and the confidence of its customers and industry partners.

“These awards are an important recognition of the commitment of our people and the confidence placed in Kenya Airways by our customers and industry partners. We are deeply grateful to the travellers and travel professionals whose confidence has made this recognition possible,” Kamal said.

The awards come as the national carrier continues efforts to strengthen its operations and expand its international footprint amid mounting pressures facing the global aviation industry.

Kenya Airways said it currently serves 45 destinations worldwide, including 37 in Africa. Through its membership of the SkyTeam Alliance and partnerships, the carrier gives customers access to more than 1,060 destinations in 173 countries.

KQ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said the four awards represented a vote of confidence in the airline’s role in connecting Africa to the rest of the world through its Nairobi hub.

“For Kenya Airways, the four awards are a vote of confidence in the airline’s role in connecting Africa to the world through its Nairobi hub and in the people, service and distinctly African hospitality behind the ‘Pride of Africa’ brand,” Thairu said.

The recognition also extends a strong run for Msafiri, which has now won the Africa’s Leading Inflight Magazine title for five consecutive years.

The publication has held the award since 2022.

The Pride Lounge award, meanwhile, gives KQ recognition beyond its aircraft, highlighting the airport experience it offers passengers travelling through its Nairobi hub.

KQ’s success in the economy-class category also marks a return to the top after EgyptAir won the award in 2025 and Ethiopian Airlines took it in 2024.

Kenya Airways previously won the economy-class title in 2023.

The airline’s latest haul comes against a difficult financial backdrop.

Kenya Airways reported a pre-tax loss of Sh15.92 billion for the first half of 2026, up from Sh12.17 billion during the same period last year.

The carrier has also been grappling with rising fuel costs, aircraft maintenance challenges and shortages of spare parts and engines.

The World Travel Awards recognition therefore offers KQ a significant boost at a time when it is seeking to improve its financial position and strengthen its competitiveness.

The awards were not, however, a clean sweep for Kenya Airways.

Ethiopian Airlines won Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class, while RwandAir was named Africa’s Leading Cabin Crew.

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania was also named Africa’s Leading Airport.

Nairobi also emerged a winner, being named Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination for the eighth consecutive year, further reinforcing the Kenyan capital’s position as a regional aviation and business hub.

For Kenya Airways, the Zanzibar ceremony provided recognition across several points of the passenger journey, from the aircraft cabin and lounge to the magazine and the airline’s wider brand.

The four trophies give the national carrier fresh recognition as it seeks to reinforce its Pride of Africa identity while navigating the financial and operational challenges confronting the airline.

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In a public announcement issued on Monday, the airline said Ms. Koimett will represent KQ Lenders Company 2017 Limited on the board, with the appointment taking effect from January 26, 2026.

“This announcement is made pursuant to the Capital Markets (Securities) (Public Offers, Listing and Disclosures) Regulations, 2023, promulgated under the Capital Markets Act,” Kenya Airways said.

“The Board of Directors of Kenya Airways Plc hereby announces the appointment of Ms. Esther Jepkemboi Koimett, CBS, as a non-executive director of the Company (representing KQ Lenders Company 2017 Limited on the Board),” the statement added.

The appointment places one of Kenya’s most experienced public-sector investment managers at the centre of governance at the airline, whose ownership and control structure shifted significantly following a debt-for-equity restructuring that converted billions of shillings owed to lenders into shareholding interests.

KQ Lenders Company 2017 Limited represents local and international lenders who extended financing to Kenya Airways during earlier restructuring efforts, particularly as the airline struggled with mounting losses, fleet financing obligations and operational disruptions exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lenders emerged as a critical stakeholder bloc following the restructuring, joining the Government of Kenya and strategic partner KLM in steering the airline’s turnaround.

Ms. Koimett’s appointment is expected to strengthen lenders’ representation at board level while bringing deep expertise in public finance, investment structuring and corporate governance.

According to the announcement, Ms. Koimett is “an accomplished public servant with over 35 years’ experience spanning across investment promotion, banking, privatisation, public enterprise reform, and public policy.”

She has played a central role in “the structuring and execution of major strategic transactions and initiatives undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Kenya,” particularly during her tenure at the National Treasury.

Ms. Koimett previously served as Investment Secretary and Director-General for Public Investments and Portfolio Management at the National Treasury, a role that placed her in charge of oversight of State corporations, government shareholding, and major public investments.

She has also held senior positions as Principal Secretary in the State Department of Transport, and Principal Secretary in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications, roles that exposed her to infrastructure development, aviation policy, and regulatory oversight.

Earlier in her career, she served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Information, and as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Post Office Savings Bank, giving her extensive exposure to financial services management.

Ms. Koimett is not new to the national carrier. She has previously served on the Kenya Airways Plc board representing the Government of Kenya, during a period marked by intense negotiations around state support and restructuring.

Her return to the board, this time representing lenders, underscores the shifting balance of influence at the airline following the recapitalisation and debt restructuring process.

Beyond the public sector, Ms. Koimett has built a strong profile in private-sector governance.

She currently serves as Chairperson of M-Pesa Holdings Company Limited, one of Kenya’s most strategically significant fintech entities, and Chairperson of AAR Insurance Kenya Limited.

She is also a non-executive director at Car & General, a listed industrial and consumer goods firm, and has previously served on multiple corporate boards across banking, insurance and infrastructure.

Her long association with Safaricom Plc, where she has served as a director, has further cemented her reputation as a seasoned boardroom leader with experience overseeing complex, regulated businesses.

Ms. Koimett holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an MBA from the University of Nairobi, an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) certificate from Strathmore University, and is a member of the Institute of Investment and Financial Analysts (IIFA), Kenya.

She was awarded the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) in recognition of her service to the country.

“The Board, Management and Staff of Kenya Airways Plc hereby congratulate Ms. Koimett on her appointment to this new role,” the airline said.

The announcement was signed by Company Secretary Habil A. Waswani on January 26, 2026.

Kenya Airways noted that the disclosure was issued with the approval of the Capital Markets Authority, adding that “as a matter of policy, the Capital Markets Authority assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the statements appearing in this announcement.”

Ms. Koimett’s appointment comes at a critical phase for Kenya Airways as it seeks to stabilise operations, rebuild profitability and align the interests of government, strategic partners and lenders in steering the airline’s long-term recovery.

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