Kenya Airways says Iran war has led to demand hike for its flights

Kenya Airways KQNA.NR said on Monday demand for seats on its flights had jumped due to the effects of war in the Middle East, with most of the gains coming from Europe, the U.S. and Asia.

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has upset the global aviation industry, prompting some airlines to raise fares and change their schedules to reduce stops at airports in the Middle East, or to cancel flights altogether.

Kenya Airways said demand for seats on its flights, known as load factor, was now almost at 100% from around 70% in January.

"We were like this ... until February. Then it significantly increased. We reached up to 90% total, 90, 99," George Kamal, acting CEO of Kenya Airways, told reporters.

"And so the most we see the gains are coming from Europe, from the U.S. and Asia. Those routes are contributing positively, very positively, to our network now," Kamal added, without giving any further details.

Kenya Airways has about 56 days of jet fuel supply and is making efforts to obtain more from India, its flight operations head Paul Njoroge said.

-Reporting by Edwin Waita; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Alexander Smith/Reuters