The partnership brings together Emirates Holidays’ portfolio of destinations, experiences and package holidays, with KATA’s network of more than 300 travel agencies across Kenya. It will provide travel professionals with enhanced access to product deep dives, destination insights and competitive promotional opportunities, enabling them to offer more choice and value to their customers.

Under the terms of the MoU, Emirates Holidays and KATA will also explore collaboration on joint marketing and promotional activities, trade webinars and industry events, such as the upcoming 2026 Arabian Travel Market, hosted in Dubai. The partnership will also support the development of targeted packages and offers for KATA member agencies, giving travel agents greater access to Emirates Holidays’ portfolio and the tools to effectively promote and sell Emirates Holidays packages.

The collaboration will focus on Dubai as a key leisure destination, while also showcasing the breadth of destinations available across the Emirates Holidays network, including Bali, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Hong Kong, Greece, Finland, Chile, Jamaica, Australia and many more.

The MoU was signed by Maitha Albutehi, Business Development Manager for Emirates Holidays – Africa Markets and Dr Joseph Kithitu, Chairman, Kenya Association of Travel Agents at the Emirates Travel Store in Nairobi. The signing was attended by Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager in Kenya, along with Nafisa Salim – Sales Manager Kenya, Emirates.

Commenting on the signing, Christophe Leloup said, “The signing of this MoU reflects our commitment to building long-term strategic partnerships with the Kenyan travel trade. Following the launch of Emirates’ third daily Nairobi service in July, we are now focused on leveraging this enhanced connectivity to stimulate leisure travel and unlock new growth opportunities. Working closely with KATA and its extensive network of travel agencies will allow us to increase awareness of Emirates Holidays, strengthen agent capability, and deliver greater value to travellers across Kenya.”

Dr. Joseph Kithitu – Chairman, Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) said, “For KATA, this MoU represents a strategic step in strengthening the role of Kenyan travel agents in the growing outbound travel market. As travellers increasingly seek diverse destinations and experiences, our members must be well positioned to respond to this demand. Our partnership with Emirates Holidays strengthens the connection between travel agents and a global travel ecosystem, creating opportunities for KATA members to expand their reach, diversify their offerings and remain relevant in a rapidly evolving market.”

The MoU forms part of Emirates Holidays’ wider strategy to strengthen its presence in key African markets through strategic partnerships with travel industry stakeholders. By working closely with the trade, Emirates Holidays aims to increase product awareness, strengthen distribution and support incremental bookings and passenger growth across its air and land offering.

Emirates Holidays makes it easy for travellers from Kenya to book a variety of holidays, with all arrangements managed by their team of expert consultants. From romantic island retreats to family getaways, or vibrant city escapes, Emirates Holidays unlocks premium hotel property stays, attractions and, of course, Emirates flights. Emirates Holidays also offers bespoke travel packages into Kenya, driving inbound tourism for international visitors to experience Kenya’s spectacular wildlife, pristine coastline, vibrant culture and warm hospitality.

Emirates first began operations to Nairobi in 1995 and, over the next 31 years, steadily scaled operations and increased frequencies to 21 weekly flights, fostering stronger connectivity between Nairobi and the wider world. Providing a world-class in-flight experience, Emirates remains the only airline serving Nairobi with private, enclosed First Class cabins.

• From 25 October, Nairobi becomes the 32^nd destination to be served by the Emirates A350
• Latest-generation aircraft introduces Emirates’ acclaimed Premium Economy cabin to Kenya for the first time, along with enhanced Business and Economy Class cabins
• Deployment reinforces Emirates’ continued investment in Kenya and commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience across its Africa network

Emirates (www.Emirates.com), the world’s largest international airline, will soon serve Nairobi with its newest aircraft type, the Airbus A350 (https://apo-opa.co/47hy1nv). From 25 October 2026, the A350 will operate on EK717 and EK718, bringing Emirates’ latest-generation cabin experience to customers travelling between Dubai and Nairobi. The Emirates A350 is defined by spacious, bright cabins, enhanced technology, connectivity, and the airline’s signature hospitality across all three cabins.

The introduction of the A350 also marks the first time Emirates’ highly acclaimed Premium Economy cabin will be available to customers flying to and from Kenya, complementing the airline’s enhanced Business and Economy offerings.

Christophe Leloup, Emirates Country Manager in Kenya said, “The arrival of the A350 in Nairobi marks an exciting new chapter for Emirates in Kenya. We’re delighted to bring our latest aircraft and onboard experience to our customers in market, with more comfort, choice and thoughtful touches in every cabin. Combined with our growing flight schedule, the A350 gives customers travelling on the Dubai-Nairobi route something new to discover, while building on the experience they know and love from Emirates.”

What passengers can expect from the A350

The newest aircraft type to join Emirates’ all widebody fleet, the A350 accommodates 298 passengers in three spacious cabins – Business, Premium Economy and Economy. The bright and airy cabins have been thoughtfully designed to provide more space and comfort in every cabin, whilst cutting-edge technology and enhanced entertainment options elevate every journey.

Making its debut in Kenya, Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin offers elevated comfort, comparable to a Business Class experience on many airlines. The cabin is spacious with leather reclining seats that feature a generous pitch, adjustable headrests and more legroom. Customers can enjoy in-seat charging points, a wood-finished side cocktail table, a 13.3-inch TV screen, a generously sized pillow and blanket, complimentary amenity kits on select flights – including the Dubai-Nairobi route – and a globally exclusive sparkling wine, Chandon Vintage Brut 2017.

Business Class is configured in a 1-2-1 layout ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access and a spacious, private environment for both work and relaxation. The fully lie-flat seat is wrapped in soft cream leather and features a personal minibar and wireless charging for comfort and convenience. At the back of the cabin is a snack display area allowing passengers to help themselves to refreshments throughout the flight.

Economy Class features an all new, airy colour palette of sky blue, bronze and cream, complemented by lighter-toned wood finishings. Each seat features the airline’s upgraded ice inflight entertainment system on a 13.3inch 4K adjustable touchscreen, while generous seat pitch and leather headrests provide support, comfort and extra legroom.

Continuing to raise the bar in Kenya

The deployment of the A350 follows a series of enhancements to the Emirates customer proposition in Kenya, including the introduction of the third daily flight between Dubai and Nairobi in July. With 21 flights per week, customers have greater flexibility and connections between Kenya and key markets across Europe and the US, via Dubai.

Nairobi is also home to Africa’s first Emirates World (https://apo-opa.co/4yeI34C) store, which opened in 2024, offering customers a more immersive way to discover Emirates’ products, while offering more convenience and personalised service.

Earlier this year, Emirates introduced further flexibility for customers in Kenya through a partnership with Cellulant, launching a split-payment solution (https://apo-opa.co/4xLYG6R) that allows travellers to combine multiple payment methods across 24-hour instalments when purchasing airfares.

Tickets can be booked now on Emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as Emirates World Store (https://apo-opa.co/46Kglkc) in Nairobi. Emirates continues to offer flexible booking policies for added peace of mind while travelling. Every ticket booked after 10^th August 2026 comes with free unlimited dates changes to Dubai and one complimentary date change to anywhere else in the world, in addition to significantly reduced refund fees across all cabins and fare types, allowing passengers to adjust their travel plans with minimal penalties.

The partnership agreement was signed by Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Centre, and June Chepkemei, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Tourism Board, in the presence of Ambassador. (Professor.) Julius K. Bitok, CBS. Principal Secretary, State Department for Tourism, and Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Rashid Alardha, Vice President of Commercial Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Emirates and Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager in Kenya, along with other senior officials.

Adil Al Ghaith said, “Kenya has been an important market for Emirates for over three decades, and our commitment goes much deeper than operations and connections. We’ve consistently invested in our presence in the market, working closely with travel trade partners and tourism stakeholders to stimulate inbound travel, and contribute positively to the global perception of Kenya. Nairobi remains one of the top 5 busiest gateways for Emirates in Africa, with significant traffic coming from UK and Europe, as well as the US. This partnership solidifies that longstanding commitment, enhancing our collaboration with the Kenya Tourism Board and the full, thriving tourism ecosystem across Nairobi and Kenya.”

June Chepkemei said, “We are delighted to partner with Emirates to strengthen Kenya’s global tourism profile and showcase the remarkable experiences our destination offers to travellers around the world. Emirates’ extensive international network and strong reach in both established and emerging markets will help us build on the growing demand for Kenya and unlock new opportunities to attract more visitors. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to promoting Kenya as a leading, diverse and unforgettable destination, while supporting the continued growth of inbound tourism and the many communities that benefit from it.”

Tourism is a key pillar in Kenya’s economy, creating thousands of employment opportunities and serving millions of tourists who visit the country each year. The Kenya Tourism Board has bold plans to establish Kenya as the most visited tourism destination in Africa, with a year-round calendar of diverse, sustainable and authentic experiences that appeal to a swathe of international visitors.

Under the framework of the partnership agreement, Emirates and KTB will explore joint initiatives to promote Kenya in key markets on the airline’s global network, showcasing the breadth of Kenya’s year-round tourism offering, and encourage more travellers to visit. The partners will also closely collaborate to develop programmes for trade partners and tour operators that educate and excite the industry, such as incentives, familiarisation trips and other marketing initiatives.

Last year, Emirates marked 30 years of operations to Nairobi and, during that tenure, has established deep-rooted ties with local communities and the travel trade ecosystem. Earlier this month, the airline’s tour operating arm, Emirates Holidays, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kenya Association of Travel Agents to stimulate outbound travel by equipping over 300 travel agencies with enhanced product and network insight and competitive promotional opportunities.