Allan Kilavuka is leaving his position as Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, closing a defining chapter in the history of the national carrier. His departure marks the end of a six year tenure that will be remembered as one of the most consequential periods in the airline’s modern history, shaped by crisis, difficult decisions and an eventual return to profitability.
Kilavuka assumed the role in January 2020, having successfully led Jambojet, Kenya Airways’ low cost subsidiary. Almost immediately, he was confronted by the most severe shock the global aviation industry has ever experienced. The COVID 19 pandemic grounded fleets, collapsed passenger demand and pushed airlines across the world into survival mode. For Kenya Airways, which had already endured years of financial strain, the challenge was existential.
Against this backdrop, Kilavuka led a fundamental reset of the airline through a comprehensive turnaround strategy known as Project Kifaru. The initiative was designed to stabilize the business, restore confidence and build a sustainable operating model. It focused on strict cost discipline, operational efficiency, commercial optimization and a restructuring of the airline’s balance sheet. The name Kifaru, Swahili for rhinoceros, symbolized resilience and strength, qualities that would come to define the airline’s recovery journey.
Under Project Kifaru, Kenya Airways underwent deep internal reforms. Costs were reduced across the organization, processes were streamlined and the airline sharpened its focus on profitable routes and core markets. Operational performance improved, partnerships were strengthened and the airline began to rebuild its network as demand returned. These efforts culminated in a historic milestone in the 2024 financial year, when Kenya Airways posted its first full year profit in more than a decade, reporting an operating profit of over ten billion shillings and a net profit exceeding five billion shillings.
Beyond the numbers, Kilavuka’s leadership helped restore credibility to the airline among employees, partners and the broader aviation community. He emphasized transparency, accountability and execution at a time when morale had been severely tested. His tenure also saw continued investment in fleet optimization, product improvements and digital initiatives aimed at enhancing the customer experience and strengthening the airline’s competitive position.
Kilavuka’s impact was felt beyond Kenya Airways. His work earned him recognition across the continent, including accolades for leadership in African aviation, reflecting his role in demonstrating that airline turnarounds in Africa are possible with disciplined strategy and committed execution.
The journey was not without setbacks. Ongoing global supply chain disruptions, aircraft availability challenges and volatile operating conditions continued to test the airline, and the search for a long term strategic equity investor remains unfinished. Even so, the progress achieved under his leadership fundamentally altered the airline’s trajectory.
Source: AIRSPACE AFFRICA
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