East African country, Kenya has set August 1, 2020, as the date for the reopening of its borders for international flights.
President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed this in his address to the nation today, Monday July 6, 2020. Earlier on, the President confirmed that domestic flight operations will start on July 15, 2020.
However, everything will be subjected to the adherence of health and safety protocols of the Ministry of Health as well as standard international civil aviation protocols.
This will be in strict conformity with all protocols from the Ministry of Health, local as well as international civil aviation authorities and any additional requirements applicable at the ports of departure arrival or transit,” he said.
According to President Uhuru, some experts have recommended reopening the county in order to save the dwindling economy.
“They argued that COVID-19 was a health crisis alright; but it was also an economic crisis at the core. If we take care of the economics of Corona, they argued, the health crisis will be easier to manage; more so with the necessary protocols in place,” he said.
Kenya’s borders, like most countries, were closed as measures were put in place to curb the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Aviation industry has taken a lion’s share of the heat with most countries suspending all international flights.
The passenger business of the global air transport industry is estimated by IATA to make revenue losses between $63 billion (Sh6.3 trillion) and $113 billion (Sh11.3 trillion) in 2020.
Kenya Airways, reported a gross loss of Sh12.98 billion, a 71 per cent drop compared to Sh7.55 billion loss the previous year.
This resulted to massive layoffs as the airline tried to adjust to the new normal.
As reported earlier by ATQNews, KQ has sent home 182 pilots with more than 400 cabin crew facing job losses, raising questions over the future of the carrier.
Source: three-star.co.ke