Why is Kenya airways called KQ?

Question

Why is Kenya Airways abbreviated as KQ and not KA?

Answer 1

Kenya Airways is abbreviated as KQ and not KA because the code name KQ was already assigned to another airline by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Each airline has to be assigned a unique code by IATA and therefore Kenya Airways had no option but go with KQ.

KQ means Kenya Quest Airways.

Here is a list of all IATA codes: https://azcargo.cz/en/services/support/iata-airline-codes/