Kenya Airways owes $37.5mln in airport charges

State-owned Kenya Airways (KQ) owes Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) 4.62 billion shillings ($37.5 million) as of June 30, 2022, up by 377.55 million shillings in the previous year, Business Daily reported, citing a report from the auditor general.

The outstanding represents 40% of the 11.64 billion shillings owed by other enterprises and airlines operating in facilities.

Nearly 570 million shillings is owed by Kenya Air Freight Handling Limited, a subsidiary company of KQ, the report stated.

The airport authority’s charges for airlines include landing, take-off, noise, emissions, parking and use of passenger facilities.

KQ has been bailed out by the government since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the airline reporting a loss of 9.8 billion shillings in August 2022 compared with a loss of 11.48 billion shillings a year earlier.