Lead image for Kenya Airways half-year loss widens to Sh16bn as costs balloon.
Kenya Airways (KQ) reported a wider half-year net loss of Sh16.08 billion for the six months to June 2026, from Sh12.15 billion in the same period last year, even as the national carrier posted double-digit growth in revenue.
The airline's total turnover rose 9 percent to Sh81.25 billion, from Sh74.5 billion in half-year 2025, driven in part by strong growth in cargo business. Cargo revenue climbed 18 percent to Sh8.77 billion, outpacing the airline's overall revenue growth and cushioning the top line against a difficult cost environment.
However, revenue gains were eroded by a sharp rise in operating costs, which went up by Sh11 billion to Sh91.9 billion.
The cost pressure pushed KQ's operating loss to Sh10.6 billion, more than 70 percent wider than the Sh6.24 billion recorded in in a similar period last year.
Other costs eased slightly to Sh5.33 billion, from Sh5.97 billion, while interest income rose to Sh47 million from Sh35 million.
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