KQ increases flights to UK to beat travel advisory deadline

Kenya Airways has added two repatriation flights on April 4 and 8 to meet increased demand for travel to the UK before the European Country’s travel advisory takes effect on April 9.

“Due to the increased demand for travel to the UK before the advisory takes effect on April 9, we have added 2 new flights on April 4 and 8,” read a statement from KQ.

The UK will not accept foreign nationals travelling from or via Kenya to the UK, including transit passengers who might only pass through JKIA, Nairobi.

“Customers impacted by this directive may change their bookings for later travel or request a refund with all penalties waived,” said KQ. 

On Friday, April 2, the UK issued a statement saying that from April 9, visitors who have been in or transited through Kenya in the previous 10 days will be denied entry into England, says UK Embassy citing Covid-19 risks.

“There are new restrictions for entering the UK from Kenya. From 0400 UK time on 9 April, visitors who have been in or transited through Kenya in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England,” read a tweet from the UK Embassy in Kenya.

British, Irish and third-country nationals with residence rights arriving in England from Kenya will be required to quarantine in a government-approved facility for 10 days. However, different rules apply for arrivals into Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Kenya’s addition to the UK’s Red List will take effect on Friday, April 9, at 4:00am UK time.

The Red List

The red list travel ban countries

If you have been in or through any of the countries listed below in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK.

If you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter. You must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

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1. Angola

2. Argentina

3. Bangladesh (will be added to the list 4am Friday 9 April)

4. Bolivia

5. Botswana

6. Brazil

7. Burundi

8. Cape Verde

9. Chile

10. Colombia

11. Democratic Republic of the Congo

12. Ecuador

13. Eswatini

14. Ethiopia

15. French Guiana

16. Guyana

17. Kenya (will be added to the list 4am Friday, April 9)

18. Lesotho

19. Malawi

20. Mozambique

21. Namibia

22. Oman

23. Pakistan (will be added to the list 4am Friday, April 9)

24. Panama

25. Paraguay

26. Peru

27. Philippines (will be added to the list 4am Friday, April 9)

28. Qatar

29. Rwanda

30. Seychelles

31. Somalia

32. South Africa

33. Suriname

34. Tanzania

35. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

36. Uruguay

37. Venezuela

38. Zambia

39. Zimbabwe

If you arrive in the UK from these places before 4am Friday, April 9, you must self-isolate for 10 days in the place you’re staying and take a Covid-19 test on day 2 and day 8. You are eligible for the Test to Release scheme.

If you arrive in the UK from these places after 4am Friday, April 9, you must stay in your quarantine hotel for your 10-day quarantine period and take a Covid-19 test on day 2 and day 8.