Kenya will have to wait The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is yet to approve direct flights from Kenya.
While praising Kenya’s “significant progress” in ensuring civil aviation safety on Thursday, DOT but did not commit to approving direct flights between the two countries.
“The US Federal Aviation Administration and the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority have been in close collaboration as Kenya has marched toward full compliance with international standards,” a DOT spokesperson said.
“They will remain in close touch and mutually determine next steps.”
Air links
The official’s comments came in response to a query regarding Kenya’s Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia’s recent claim that the East African state had met all requirements for direct flights between Nairobi and the US.
Kenyan officials have repeatedly suggested during the past year that direct air links with the US would soon be established. But Washington has not publicly committed to allowing airlines to fly that route.
Substantial gains for Kenyan business and the country’s tourism industry were expected if passengers and cargo could move more expeditiously to and from the US.
Final destination
The financially troubled Kenya Airways would likely reap benefits if it became able to fly directly to US destinations.
A direct flight makes a scheduled stop at an intermediate airport between its point of origin and its final destination. Passengers generally remain on the same plane, however, saving time spent in transit.
Delta Air Lines came close in 2009 to inaugurating direct service between Atlanta and Nairobi, with a stop in Dakar, Senegal.
Reacted angrily
US aviation officials, however, refused to clear the service one day prior to its scheduled start.
Specific reasons for the abrupt cancellation were not provided, with US authorities citing general concerns regarding “security vulnerabilities in and around Nairobi”.
Kenyan officials reacted angrily at the time to the last-minute US decision.
Mr Moses Wetang’ula, who was serving as Foreign minister in 2009, summoned then-US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger to his office to express Kenya’s displeasure.
Source: africareview.com
