KQ and KLM cleared to align

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According to eTurboNews, the Kenya Competition Authority has granted alliance partners Kenya Airways and Air France-KLM a further seven-year exemption in co-ordinating schedules, setting fares and using joint measures to save costs through codeshare agreements, scheduling alignments, and where necessary adjusting capacity on the Nairobi-Amsterdam route and beyond.

This means that no other airline may file cases claiming anti-competitive behaviour against them. KQ and KLM are free to align fares and take other joint action.

Kenya Airways and KLM have been in a close partnership since KQ was privatised in 1996, with KLM holding a significant share portion, alongside the government of Kenya. KLM sponsored KQ to full membership at SkyTeam, which has benefitted the African airline through codeshare arrangements with a number of partners, opening routes to Australia, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, and a number of Chinese mainland destinations.