Kenya Airways has launched its 2024 Sustainability Report, announcing an ambitious plan to begin local production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) within the next five years. The move signals a pivotal shift in the airline’s approach to decarbonization and comes at a time when global aviation is under mounting pressure to accelerate climate action.
Unveiled at the airline’s Pride Centre in Nairobi, the report places SAF at the heart of Kenya Airways’ long-term environmental strategy. Through a memorandum of understanding with a local fuel producer, the airline plans to cultivate SAF feedstock on degraded land in Kwale County, previously a mining site. The initiative is expected to generate homegrown SAF for both domestic use and export markets, reducing emissions while strengthening energy security.
The development comes as fuel continues to dominate the airline’s carbon footprint, accounting for over 60% of total emissions. By anchoring SAF production within its operations, Kenya Airways aims to address both climate impact and long-term fuel cost volatility. According to CEO Allan Kilavuka, localizing SAF supply could enhance not only environmental sustainability but also economic resilience.
The airline has already made early strides. In 2023, Kenya Airways became the first African airline to operate a long-haul flight using SAF, flying from Nairobi to Amsterdam. It has also taken steps to green its ground operations, converting 12 service vehicles to electric and launching a waste-to-biodiesel pilot plant.
Beyond SAF, the 2024 report outlines broader progress in embedding sustainability across Kenya Airways’ operations. In the past year, the airline served over 5.2 million passengers, expanded its workforce by 8%, and increased the proportion of women employees to 44%. A 15% reduction in operational waste was recorded, and 12% of ground service equipment is now powered by renewable energy. In the same year, the CEO said they set up a plant to convert waste plastic into biodiesel, which is a lot cleaner than fossil diesel.
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The company’s afforestation programme also remains a flagship climate action initiative. To date, over 1.2 million trees have been planted, with plans to replicate this scale annually. Meanwhile, women now represent 8% of KQ’s pilot workforce, nearly double the global average – reflecting targeted efforts to close gender gaps in aviation leadership.
Kenya Airways’ environmental strategy is aligned with the global “Fly Net Zero by 2050” commitment under the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The airline is also a participant in the SkyTeam alliance’s Sustainable Flight Challenge, which encourages innovation in low emission flying through competitive benchmarking and shared best practices.
The sustainability report was welcomed by government officials, who praised KQ’s contributions to national climate goals. Kenya has committed to a 32% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The airline’s SAF initiative, alongside fleet modernization and waste reduction was hailed as a strong example of public-private cooperation for low-carbon development.
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Kenya Airways’ leadership in SAF comes as other African carriers begin to explore similar solutions. In South Africa, SAA is examining SAF production from sugarcane and biomass feedstocks. Ethiopian Airlines has piloted SAF on select flights, while Morocco and Egypt are evaluating industrial capacity to support alternative fuel scaling. These efforts reflect a growing recognition that Africa’s aviation future must align with global climate expectations, even though the continent currently accounts for just 2–3% of global aviation emissions.
Significant hurdles still remain; Globally, SAF supply meets only about 2% of demand, and production costs remain four to five times higher than traditional jet fuel. For many African carriers, already contending with high operating costs and currency instability, SAF adoption without supportive policy frameworks or financial incentives is a steep climb.
Momentum, however, is building. The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) has endorsed the continent’s participation in CORSIA—the UN-led Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. Countries like Rwanda and Nigeria have initiated national aviation decarbonization roadmaps, while regional airports are assessing green retrofit opportunities and carbon-neutral certification.
Kenya Airways’ bold foray into local SAF production could serve as a model for others: leveraging climate-smart land restoration to feed clean fuel development, while building local supply chains and creating jobs. With environmental regulations tightening and climate finance rising in influence, African carriers that move early on sustainability may not only mitigate risks but unlock new competitive advantages. By turning climate ambition into practical investments, Kenya Airways is positioning itself as a climate leader in Africa’s aviation transition.
