Kenya Airways to unveil straight flight to Somalia

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Ofiicer Sebastian Mikosz.

Kenya Airways is set to launch direct flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Mogadishu on Thursday. The airline is expected to fly seven times weekly linking cities and expediting movement of people and products.

KQ Managing Director, Sebastian Mikosz said in a statement that the move will open new trade opportunities for the country.

“The addition of this route to our network demonstrates our commitment to improving connectivity on the African continent, while creating new opportunities for corporates, investors, traders and tourists”, said Mikosz.

The daily flight is expected to depart from Nairobi’s JKIA at 0740hrs and land at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport at 0945hrs and back to Nairobi at 1300hrs with Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 making its first trip on this route.

Mikosz said that the extension will help ease travel demands from Nairobi to Mogadishu for investors.  

“The launch of this route is expected to ease travel between the two cities that are the focal points of business in the two countries and spur commercial activities. We want to extend our network reach and make it convenient for our guests who work and invest in Somalia,’’ stated the CEO.

The launch of the direct flight from Nairobi to Mogadishu will benefit Kenya by reducing trade gaps which amounts to Sh99.8 billion well as fostering ties between the two nations.

In March 2017, Kenya signed trade agreement with Somali by stating plans of opening two border posts and re-launching of direct flights from Nairobi to Mogadishu to help facilitate movement of people and goods in its quest to expand mark to the Horn of Africa.

Since more than 18,000 Somaliland citizens live in Kenya, the move is expected to trigger more trading with the nation as more trickle in using the flight.

So far, Ethiopia Airlines provide two flights that fly directly to Somaliland between Addis Ababa and Hargeisa.

Fly Dubai also has flights that fly between Dubai and Hargeisa bringing business people to Somalia from all over the world.

The non-stop flight will leave JKIA at 0740hrs and arrive in Mogadishu at 0955hrs.