Direct flights to US to start next year

Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau (right) briefs the media at a Nairobi hotel on Kenya’s achievements at the recently concluded US-Africa Leaders Summit. Others from left are Davis Chirchir (Energy and Petroleum), Joseph ole Lenku (Interior and Co-ordination) and Adan Mohamed (Industrialisation). [PHOTO: PSCU]

Kenya: Direct flights to the US from Kenya will commence next year, Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Michael Kamau has indicated.

Mr Kamau said Kenya was on course to attain “Category 1” status at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which will allow direct flights to and from the US.

“We are going to have an evaluation of the progress in September. Every indication is that we are headed there,” he said.

The CS said experts from the US were in the country to assist airport authorities to achieve the status.

Kamau said US airline Delta and national carrier Kenya Airways were keen to launch direct fights.

The US had earlier committed to grant Kenya the greenlight to launch direct flights to America provided the upgrades at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are done according to international standards.

The US indicated that once JKIA is certified as a ‘Category 1’ status by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and Federal Aviation Administration, which is a requirement for all airports handling flights operating in and out of America, then direct services between Kenya and the US can commence.

MOVE CRITICAL

On Thursday, Kamau said a recent meeting between Kenyan representatives and Delta, Boeing and General Electric officials resolved that direct flights to Kenya should commence as soon as possible.

“In the US, you don’t get things done just like that, you have to lobby. Delta, Boeing and General Electric agreed to lead the lobby to have direct flights to Kenya,” said the CS during a media briefing on the issues that arose during President Uhuru Kenyatta recent participation in the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit.

Kamau noted that the national carrier has more than 50 destinations and was keen on increasing the numbers.

He said business executives from the US expressed interests in having direct flights to Kenya, adding that the move will be very critical in promoting business between the US and Kenya.

Present during Thursday’s Press briefing were cabinet secretaries Adan Mohammed (Industrilisation), Joseph ole Lenku (Interior), David Chirchir (Energy), industrialist Chris Kirubi and chairman of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kiprono Kittony.