Kenya Airways is set to add two Boeing 777-300ERs after agreeing a deal with aircraft lessor GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)

"We have signed a letter of intent for two Boeing 777-300ERs with GECAS. Delivery would be for the end of 2012, beginning of 2013," said Kenya Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni on the sidelines of the Embraer-organised Connectivity in Africa conference in Nairobi.

Kenya Airways already operates four Boeing 777-200s. Naikuni said the carrier would look at deploying the additional aircraft on long-haul routes to India and other parts of Asia.

The aircraft are in addition to the nine Boeing 787s the carrier is due to take delivery of in the fourth quarter under a revised scheduled agreed in April.

In June the airline signed a preliminary deal for 10 more Embraer 190 regional jets, as well as options on 10 more.

The SkyTeam carrier is also adding used freighters later this year as it steps up its cargo operations. "We are getting a 747 freighter that is starting operations in October," said Naikuni, adding it is also currently looking at adding two Boeing 737-400 freighters for this October as well.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news