- Airline alliances and bilateral partnerships continue to shape the East African aviation landscape. These collaborations help airlines enhance connectivity, expand route networks, and improve service delivery. The global alliances—Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam—maintained their relevance in the region, complemented by independent tie-ups involving regional carriers.
Star Alliance
- Star Alliance had a strong East African presence through Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa’s top carriers. Ethiopian expanded its reach across the continent and globally by enhancing cooperation with fellow Star members like Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. New codeshare flights were launched connecting cities like Mwanza and Eldoret via Addis Ababa to Europe and Asia. The airline also played a vital role in interlinking East Africa with global trade hubs, capitalizing on post-pandemic recovery in passenger and cargo traffic.
Oneworld
- Though no East African airline is a full Oneworld member, the alliance impacts the region through carriers like Qatar Airways and British Airways. Qatar Airways expanded flights to Nairobi, Entebbe, and Zanzibar, with additional fifth-freedom services linking Africa and Europe. British Airways also enhanced cooperation with regional airlines, improving feeder connections. Oneworld’s growing digital loyalty integration allowed elite passengers from East Africa to pool miles across member airlines, improving the travel experience.
SkyTeam
- Kenya Airways, East Africa’s key SkyTeam member, continued to deepen collaboration with KLM and Air France, especially on the Nairobi–Amsterdam and Paris routes. Kenya Airways also worked closely with Korean Air and Saudia to serve Asia and the Gulf. Biometric boarding trials at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport supported faster processing. The SkyStream booking platform helped streamline multi-airline journeys involving SkyTeam members.
Independent Partnerships
- Carriers like RwandAir and Uganda Airlines pursued independent partnerships. RwandAir’s relationship with Qatar Airways advanced with new joint services to the Middle East. Uganda Airlines signed interline agreements with Emirates and Turkish Airlines, aiming to position Entebbe as a growing hub. Ethiopian Airlines also strengthened links with South African Airways to improve regional connectivity.
