Kenya Airways has removed traditional physical in-flight duty-free shopping and moved entirely to a digital platform partnered with Safari Duty Free, starting today. Passengers can now pre-order items up to 40 days before departure. The change applies to the airline’s in-flight sales, which were previously made from carts on board.
The change means passengers will no longer buy duty-free goods from a cart rolling down the aisle during a flight. Instead, they will place orders through the digital platform developed with Safari Duty Free. The move is a complete shift away from physical in-flight sales rather than a partial change.
Pre-ordering up to 40 days before departure gives travelers a longer window to choose products and plan purchases. Shoppers who once decided during the flight can now make choices well before boarding. That may suit people who want to compare items or buy gifts in advance.
The shift reflects a broader move in aviation retail toward online ordering and pre-flight shopping. Airlines have long relied on in-flight sales as an income stream, and digital platforms can keep that revenue while changing how goods are handled. Fewer physical items on board can also reduce the work involved in stocking and selling from trolleys during a flight.
For passengers, the main difference is how and when they shop. Travelers who enjoy browsing the cart during a flight will need to plan ahead. Those who prefer last-minute purchases may find a 40-day pre-order window less convenient than an onboard sale.
The partnership with Safari Duty Free brings a Kenyan retail brand into the airline’s offering. Working with a retail partner gives the airline a provider to run the platform and manage the product range. The terms of the arrangement have not been disclosed, so the financial split between the two companies remains unknown.
Kenya Airways has not yet released details on pricing, delivery options, or whether the digital platform will expand to other routes. Passengers will also want to know how items are collected or delivered once they land. Those details will determine whether the platform works well for families, business travelers and frequent flyers.
Frequent flyers and the wider travel market will be watching whether the system is convenient in practice. The airline’s results over the coming months will show whether digital sales can replace the onboard cart at the scale it hopes for.
Passengers will be watching to see whether the platform delivers the convenience promised and whether the airline shares results from the change.
