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Wednesday November 29, 2023
FILE PHOTO/ alliance/dpa
Nairobi (HOL) – Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the resumption of direct flights to Mogadishu from Nairobi, starting February 14, 2024. This resumption marks the ending of a three-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is seen as a significant boost to Somalia-Kenya connectivity.
Kenya Airways will operate flights three times a week — Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays — underlining the importance of economic cooperation between Kenya and Somalia. The move follows the recent bilateral air services agreement, symbolizing a thaw in diplomatic relations and mutual economic interests.
Flight KQ362 will depart Nairobi at 14:00 and arrive in Mogadishu at 15:45. The return flight, KQ363, will leave Mogadishu at 16:35, arriving in Nairobi at 18:20. The prices for the flights start at USD 1050 (Sh160,751).
Julius Thairu, Kenya Airways’ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, stated that the resumption aligns with the airline’s commitment to providing high-quality service and fostering trade and investment. “We are eager about the potential of re-establishing the link between Mogadishu and Nairobi through KQ. This move aligns with the increasing business and the growing number of air travel between Kenya and Somalia. Kenya Airways is committed to providing high-quality service for our customers as we work together to foster trade and investment for sustained growth.”
Apart from Mogadishu, KQ is expanding its global presence. It has resumed direct flights to Bangkok, offering five weekly trips, and reintroduced daily flights to New York from December 1. This expansion aims to counter the setbacks faced during the pandemic, which reduced flights to major destinations such as Dubai, London, and Johannesburg.
Kenya Airways’ move to resume flights to Mogadishu is part of a larger strategy to enhance connectivity and economic growth within Africa and beyond.
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