Kenya Airways gets US Govt. nod for direct flights

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United States President Donald Trump has approved Kenya Airways application for direct flights from Nairobi to the US.

According to an order released yesterday by the US Department of Transportation, neither Trump, nor his representative, rejected the application by the national carrier for the direct flights. Interested parties had been given 21 days to file objections to the order.

On the other hand, Trump had 60 days to disapprove the application but did not, hence the application became valid on September 5, 2017.

Kenya Airways is now allowed to transport persons, property, and mail from any point or points behind Kenya, via any point or points in Kenya and any intermediate points, to any point or points in the United States and beyond, the order read in part.

“We make final our findings and conclusions as stated in the order and award to Kenya Airways PLC the foreign air carrier permit with associated conditions attached to the order,” US director of international aviation Brian Hedberg said.

According to Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, the national carrier has two more steps remaining for it to have the inaugural flight.

The CS said it will require that Jomo Kenyatta International Airport undergoes a security audit from the United States Transportation Security Administration in November 2017 before it can start off.

Secondly, the airline will also have to wait to receive a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in April next year.

Kenya Airways has already beaten two hurdles towards this goal. In February this year, the airline achieved CAT1 status and in June, KQ acquired the traffic rights from the United States Department of Transport.

Speaking, Kenya Airways corporate communications manager Wanjiku Mugo said they are currently working on logistical issues as they intend to have their first flight to the US in the first half of next year.

According to the new order, the permit issued to KQ can only be terminated under four circumstances, the first one being dissolution or liquidation of the airline.

Secondly, upon the effective date of any treaty, convention, agreement or amendment, which shall have the effect of eliminating the bilateral right for the service authorized by this permit from the service which may be operated by airlines designated by the Government of Kenya.

Thirdly, upon the effective date of any permit granted by the department to any other carrier designated by the Government of Kenya in lieu of the holder, and lastly upon the termination or expiration of the applicable air services agreement between the United States and Kenya.

This nod from the United States comes a month after a code share agreement between Kenya Airways and Oman Air for the latter to provide transport services between Muscat and Nairobi.

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