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The New Pilot: 5 Key Facts About Captain George Kamal, Kenya Airways' Interim CEO

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The leadership of Kenya Airways (KQ) has entered a new chapter this week, effective December 16, 2025, with the appointment of Captain George Kamal as the Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. This significant and very recent executive transition comes as former CEO Allan Kilavuka steps down, closing a defining six-year tenure that saw the national carrier navigate the unprecedented turbulence of the global pandemic and achieve a notable operating profit in 2024. The focus now shifts to Captain Kamal, a seasoned aviation executive, who is tasked with maintaining the momentum of the airline's financial recovery while the board initiates a competitive global search for a permanent successor.

The appointment of Captain Kamal, who previously served as KQ's Chief Operating Officer (COO), signals the board's commitment to a stable and experienced hand during this critical transition period. His nearly three decades of global aviation experience will be vital as Kenya Airways continues its fleet restoration program and strives for sustained profitability amidst persistent financial pressures. This article delves into the profile of the new interim leader and examines the complex legacy left by his predecessor.

The New Pilot: A Full Profile of Captain George Kamal

The appointment of Captain George Kamal as the interim leader of Kenya Airways brings a wealth of operational and leadership experience to the helm. As a distinguished aviation professional, his background as a pilot and a senior executive at major international carriers positions him uniquely to steer the airline's day-to-day operations and strategic direction.

  • Current Role: Acting Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of Kenya Airways Plc.
  • Effective Date: December 16, 2025.
  • Previous Role at KQ: Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kenya Airways.
  • Aviation Experience: Nearly three decades (29 years) of progressive leadership experience across the global aviation industry.
  • Career Highlights: Captain Kamal’s career began as a first officer and captain at Egypt Air. He later transitioned to senior roles at other international carriers, including a significant period at Etihad Airways.
  • Operational Focus: His expertise is heavily rooted in core airline operations, a crucial area for an airline focusing on efficiency and fleet reliability.
  • Mandate: To lead the airline during the transition period while the Board conducts a comprehensive, competitive search for a substantive CEO.

Allan Kilavuka's Defining Legacy: Navigating the Pandemic and the Turnaround Strategy

Allan Kilavuka's tenure, which began in April 2020, will be remembered as one of the most challenging in the history of the airline. He took the reins just as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the global aviation industry to a near-halt, forcing unprecedented measures to keep the national carrier afloat.

Kilavuka's leadership was defined by a critical focus on survival and strategic recovery. He successfully navigated prolonged grounding of fleets, border closures, and severe revenue losses that further strained an already fragile financial structure. His strategy centered on cost containment, optimizing operations, and restructuring debt, a plan often referred to as the KQ turnaround strategy.

A key milestone achieved under his watch was the announcement of the airline's first operating profit in several years. In 2024, Kenya Airways reported a significant operating profit of Sh5.4 billion, demonstrating the effectiveness of the cost-cutting and revenue-boosting measures implemented. This achievement, despite the heavy financial pressures, is a major part of his legacy, providing a clear path toward potential financial stability.

However, the journey remains volatile. The first half of 2025 saw the airline post a net loss of KES12.15 billion ($94.3 million), highlighting the persistent financial challenges, particularly high fuel costs and legacy debt, that continue to plague the carrier. Kilavuka's departure, therefore, marks the end of the initial post-pandemic recovery phase and sets the stage for the next phase of deep-seated financial restructuring.

Kenya Airways' Strategic Flight Path: Challenges and the Search for a Permanent CEO

Captain George Kamal steps into the acting role at a pivotal moment. The airline has demonstrated a capacity for operational excellence and revenue growth, but the underlying financial pressures require continued, aggressive strategic management. The immediate focus will be on several key areas that form the core of the airline's strategic flight path.

Maintaining Operational Excellence and Fleet Restoration

As the former Chief Operating Officer, Captain Kamal is intimately familiar with the operational requirements of the airline. A major part of the ongoing strategy involves the fleet restoration program, ensuring that all aircraft are operational and utilized efficiently to maximize revenue streams. Maintaining high standards of safety and on-time performance will be crucial for boosting passenger confidence and market share in competitive African and international routes.

Sustaining the Turnaround and Addressing Financial Volatility

The primary challenge for the interim leadership is to convert the operational profit into a sustainable net profit. This requires continued efforts to manage the high cost of operations, including fuel and maintenance, and to address the significant debt burden. The board and the new leadership must maintain investor confidence and ensure that the gains made in 2024 are not eroded by global economic headwinds or internal inefficiencies. The focus on cost containment and revenue optimization must be relentless to achieve long-term financial stability.

The Competitive Search for Substantive Leadership

The Kenya Airways Board has made it clear that a comprehensive, competitive search for a substantive GMD/CEO will commence immediately. This process is expected to be rigorous, seeking a leader with a proven track record in complex airline management, financial restructuring, and strategic growth in a challenging market environment. The ideal candidate will need to not only continue the turnaround strategy but also chart a clear, long-term vision for Kenya Airways as a dominant African carrier.

The next permanent CEO will inherit an airline that has survived its darkest hour, thanks in part to the resilience shown under Allan Kilavuka. However, the task ahead remains immense: transforming a recovering airline into a profitable, globally competitive entity. Captain Kamal's immediate role is to ensure stability and progress until that new, permanent leadership is successfully identified and installed.

ceo of kenya airways
ceo of kenya airways

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