Kenya Airways has entered into a partnership with the United Bank of Africa (UBA) to promote trade and remittances across the continent.
The partnership was formalized by Kenya Airways Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Bram Stalleram, and UBA Managing Director, Mr Munyiwa Akinyemi. This venture will see the bank highlight trade opportunities and financial products through on-board cabin advertising.
Kenya Airways, which last year recorded two milestones by surpassing the 3 million passenger mark and exceeding the one billion US dollar mark in turn over, is currently serving 43 destinations in Africa and 11 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Far East. The airline shares common customers with UBA, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, fostering common ground for the partnership.
The institutions will be leveraging their leadership positions in their respective industries for the advertising deal which commences in July 2011. The deal will enable the bank to present an array of financial products including Africash, Afritrade and Africard through Kenya Airways in-flight communication and other channels to passengers on Kenya Airways flights across the Kenya Airways network.
Mr Stellar said: “This partnership offers opportunities for us to work with UBA in highlighting the growing opportunities for our customers across the continent while enabling us to continue to grow our ancillary revenues.”
He added that Kenya Airways is committed to the strategic and sustainable development of Africa and will continue to seek partnerships with other organizations that will enable the fulfilment of the continent’s economic development.
The partnership will also see UBA advertise its products and services in the Kenya Airways in- flight magazine Msafiri, on its In – Flight Entertainment systems (IFE) and on the aircraft seat covers. Previously, seat cover advertising has been solely reserved for Kenya Airways products. UBA is the first corporate organization to take up the opportunity for the in-cabin advertising.
Also at the ceremony Mr Akinyemi said “we are flagging off this partnership with the promotion of Africash; our proprietary money transfer service that facilitates instant local and cross border payment service for UBA or non UBA customers across over 850 branches and numerous sub-agents across Africa.”
As a Pan African bank offering unique products and services to more than 8 million customer accounts in 19 African countries, the partnership with Kenya Airways on the whole provides the bank with a good platform to share information on its banking products, innovative cross-border payments solutions and trade finance services, he said.
Kenya Airways which recently scooped a top award at the Africa Investor (Ai) Tourism Investor awards and was declared the Business Airline of the Year in Africa has identified various platforms through which the airline can grow its ancillary revenues by offering value based opportunities for advertising services to various corporate entities. “Kenya Airways will continue to identify further opportunities for the customer communication as we strive to provide even better services to our passengers who are also consumers of various other products,” Kenya Airways operations director said.
For his part, Kenya Airways Loyalty Programs Manager, Mr Julius Mburu, said that the partnership will lighten the burden for the business fraternity in Kenya and the continent who need cash transfers when they trade in Asia. With this partnership they will be able to withdraw any cash in such destinations, Mburu said.
The Kenya Airways Marketing Manager pointed out that this venture will widen their advertising scope far beyond the airport bus branding that is currently used by Safaricom, Airtel and Coca Cola as well as the in-flight menu currently used by EABL.
