Air France Expands Nairobi Route as Travel Demand Surges

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, April 10, 2026 - Air France is ramping up its operations on the Nairobi–Paris route, deploying a larger aircraft to meet surging travel demand and reinforcing Kenya’s position as a key aviation hub linking Africa to global markets.

The French carrier announced it will introduce a Boeing 777-200 on the route starting May 15, replacing the Airbus A350 currently in use and increasing seat capacity by about 12 percent per flight.

The move comes amid a steady rise in passenger traffic between East Africa and Europe, driven by business, tourism and diplomatic travel.

Air France currently operates 14 weekly flights between Nairobi and Paris, making the route one of its most important African connections.

The airline said Nairobi is among several global destinations, including major Asian cities such as Tokyo and Singapore, where it is increasing capacity to respond to shifting travel patterns.

The expansion also reflects broader geopolitical shifts in global aviation.

Ongoing instability in parts of the Middle East has disrupted traditional transit hubs, forcing airlines to reroute flights and adjust networks. As a result, African hubs such as Nairobi are emerging as alternative gateways for intercontinental travel.

Air France noted that these changes have influenced passenger flows, prompting the airline to deploy larger aircraft and increase frequency on high-demand routes, including Nairobi.

The capacity increase is a strong vote of confidence in Nairobi’s growing role as a regional and international aviation hub.

The Nairobi–Paris route connects to Paris Charles de Gaulle, one of Europe’s largest aviation hubs, offering onward connections to over 300 global destinations through the Air France-KLM and SkyTeam networks.

This connectivity is critical for:

Tourism flows into Kenya
Export of fresh produce such as flowers and vegetables
Business travel linking Africa to Europe and North America

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Air France’s expansion is also expected to intensify competition on the route, where Kenya Airways remains the only other airline offering direct flights between Nairobi and Paris.

However, Kenya Airways operates fewer weekly flights and uses smaller aircraft, meaning Air France’s move could give it a competitive edge in terms of capacity and flexibility for travelers.

Increased seat capacity often translates into:

Greater accessibility for international travelers
Potential stabilization, or reduction, of ticket prices
Increased cargo space for exports

For Kenya’s economy, stronger air connectivity supports key sectors such as tourism, trade and foreign investment.

The move also comes at a time when global travel demand is rebounding, with airlines adjusting their networks to reflect new economic realities and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Industry analysts say the decision underscores a broader trend in aviation: the redistribution of global travel flows away from traditional hubs toward emerging regional centres.

For Nairobi, this presents an opportunity to consolidate its position as a strategic gateway for Africa, provided infrastructure and capacity keep pace with demand.