Aviation History
Aviation in Kenya developed under British colonial rule, with Nairobi becoming an East African hub served by Imperial Airways and other carriers from the 1930s. From 1946 to 1977, Kenya's international air services were run jointly with Uganda and Tanzania through East African Airways, which collapsed amid political and financial disputes between the three governments. Kenya Airways was created in January 1977 to fill the gap, later becoming one of Africa's most prominent carriers after a landmark 1996 privatization and Nairobi Stock Exchange listing, a strategic partnership with KLM, and full SkyTeam membership in 2010. The airline suffered a severe financial crisis in the mid-2010s tied to over-expansion, leading to a major 2017 debt restructuring, while its low-cost subsidiary Jambojet has extended domestic access since 2014.
East African Airways Corporation was established on 1 January 1946, jointly owned by Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, becoming the region's primary international carrier.
East African Airways introduced two de Havilland Comet 4 jets, connecting Nairobi and other East African cities to London and Rome.
East African Airways was dissolved amid deteriorating relations and unpaid debts between its member governments; Kenya Airways was established on 22 January 1977 to become Kenya's own national carrier.
Kenya Airways shares were floated on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in March 1996, with KLM taking a 26% stake, making it the first African flag carrier to successfully privatize.
After becoming a SkyTeam associate member in 2007, Kenya Airways achieved full SkyTeam membership in June 2010, expanding its global codeshare network.
Kenya Airways launched Jambojet, Kenya's first low-cost carrier, to serve domestic routes with lower fares.
Following heavy losses from an aggressive fleet-expansion program, Kenya Airways underwent a major debt-to-equity restructuring, converting hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and reshaping its ownership.
East African Airways · Kenya Airways · Jambojet · African Express Airways · Fly540
Compiled from public encyclopedic sources (Wikipedia, airline industry histories); precise colonial-era first-flight dates for Kenya specifically (as distinct from the broader East African region) are less well documented and treated cautiously.