Knowledge Transfer and the Development of Airline business in Africa: Kenya Airways, 1977-2017

Abstract

This article examines the development of strategic alliances in the airline industry through the participation of Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (hereafter KLM) in a joint venture with Kenya Airways (hereafter KQ). Based on the literature on knowledge transfer in international business and organization studies, the study focuses on the evolution of cooperation between both partners over time, from capital seeking to joint marketing, legitimacy, knowledge seeking, and revenue and cost sharing. In particular, it demonstrates how the features of the two firms and their boundaries affect inter-organizational knowledge transfer.