KQ (KLM and AIR FRANCE) .......greed and lack of competition!

KQ the pride of Africa is one of the luxurious airlines in the world (at least going off their pricing which is very similar to the British Airways pricing). I have never used them and have never booked with them. However, there is a good reason for that 

KLM and Air France have in the recent years signed agreements with KQ; the two airlines fly people to Nairobi and KQ does the rest as the African ‘matatu’ for the two European airlines.

The same is true in Europe, KQ makes a direct flight to London, Manchester, Amsterdam or other main cities and the passengers reach their final destination by using either of the two airlines if their destination is in Europe or Delta and others if the destination is in Americas. 

So you would think that if you were to book for a flight by KLM, Air France or KQ the price should be the same as you will end up in the same plane anyway. Well, you could not be any wrong. An air ticket from Manchester to Nairobi costs £800 plus by KQ or £400 by KLM or Air France. Regardless on whom you paid for the flight you have no choice on which airplane you end up in, or what kind of food you are fed for that flight. So for instance I book for the cheap ticket with KLM and you use KQ ticket, we all end up with the same exact treatment and courier.

So why is KQ so expensive? If you dare try book for a flight by KLM or Air France from Nairobi, the price is around the same as that of KQ – this is all thanks to the KQ being the main courier from Africa to Europe for the 3 airlines. I have tried booking for a ticket from Nairobi to London by KLM and it cost me £1,000 approx. to book for a return flight from London to Nairobi costs me £350 which works out much cheaper than when originating from Kenya. This shows that either the Taxes in Kenya are higher than those in UK or that KQ is one hell of a greedy airline. I tend to think the latter is true. The difference is clearly significant; this can highly be attributed to the fact that there is no real competition on air travel from Kenya. The competition is really only Arab airlines VS KQ and its partners.  

Other significant price differentials are clear with a flight with KQ to Mombasa from Nairobi return going to £80, it costs £40 to travel Return from Manchester to Malaga (Spain) which is more than double the distance. The flight cost in most European airlines is mainly made up of air taxes due to the high taxes in the European countries, but they are still able to charge lower fares and make more profits for their companies. I cannot help but think that KQ is really playing the patriotism card to justify why it should overcharge their customers. 

Anyway, I would travel with any Arab airline anytime, the service, punctuality and the class of the service is just way above that of KQ ----just remember been on KQ to Mombasa once! A very noisy flight compared to the newer aeroplanes used by the Arab and European airlines I have been on! Just my rant on KQ overprices and their tact to deny us the benefit of the cheaper European air flights coming to Nairobi.