The United States and Kenya have signed an amendment to the U.S.-Kenya Air Transport Agreement at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
According to aircargoworld.com, the amendment adds seventh-freedom traffic rights for all-cargo operations to the bilateral Air Transport Agreement, and will enter into force following an exchange of diplomatic notes. The amendment has been applied on the basis of comity and reciprocity since it was negotiated Dec. 4, 2019.
Specifically, the amendment’s seventh-freedom traffic rights allow for U.S. all-cargo airlines to fly between Kenya and a third nation without stopping in the United States, an important right for carriers operating a cargo hub. Kenyan all-cargo carriers also have reciprocal rights to serve the United States.
Ultimately, the rights in the amendment are aimed at fully opening the included nations’ air cargo service markets to one another, facilitating the liberalization of Africa’s international civil aviation sector and providing air carriers greater flexibility to more efficiently meet the needs of their cargo and express delivery customers.
Seventh freedom of the air refer to the right of a country’s aircraft to fly between two foreign countries while not offering flights to one’s own country.
It is the right or privilege granted by one country to another country, of transporting traffic between the territory of the granting country and any third country with no requirement to include on such operation any point in the territory of the recipient country. The service need not connect to or be an extension of any service to/from the home country of the carrier.
Also, Kenya Airways reached an agreement with Delta to activate its codeshare in the US and Canada in 2019.
According to atqnews.com, the arrangement will enable both the business and leisure travelers to enjoy greater connectivity and efficiency in eleven US cities and four Canadian cities.
The arrangement is an opportunity for travelers to connect from New York, using the direct flight from Nairobi, to other cities within the US and Canada opening many more opportunities at more competitive fares.
Sebastian Mikosz, Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, said:
“As part of our commitment to the New York route, we are proud to be a part of this partnership that will open up opportunities for our customers to access more destinations in North America through the John F. Kennedy Airport.”
