JKIA eyes category one status to allow US flights

Transport PS Irungu Nyakera (second right) joins Zambia’s Provincial Minister for Southern Province Nathaniel Mubakwani (right) and KQ CEO Mbuvi Ngunze in cutting a cake to welcome the newly launched flight KQ 782 into Livingstone. [Photo: Joe Ombuor/Standard]

Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is poised to join category one status to allow for direct flights to the US.

Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera made the revelation in Cape Town, South Africa, during the launch of the Nairobi-Cape Town route by Kenya Airways, via Livingstone in Zambia.

He said officials from the Transport Security Organisation (TSA), US agency concerned with air travel, were at JKIA from May 10 to 13 and expressed satisfaction with the progress so far made on the airport’s security.

“They were generally happy. We expect a favourable answer in two weeks’ time,” he said adding, “We have to achieve it this year.”

The PS said the process started two years ago with 80 action items to improve on. “The items are now down to nine. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) are expected in Nairobi on July 25 to announce if Kenya qualifies,” he said. He was optimistic that Parliament would pass the Civil Aviation Bill in a week or so to expedite things.

Turbulence

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze predicted that KQ would get back to profitability in the next 12 to 18 months. He said the airline had improved network connectivity by 20 per cent this year alone and increased frequencies to destinations she flies by 35 per cent per week.

“Sixty per cent of our revenues are generated in Africa, hence African connections are our first priority,” said Mr Ngunze. He criticised rigid visa restrictions by some African governments.

“It is a pity that at a time when Africa should be moving more to a regime of visas on arrival to ease travel and enhance inter-African trade, some governments are raising the hurdles higher than they do for travelers from other continents,” regretted Ngunze. He said KQ was proudly the first carrier to fly direct to Cape Town from Livingstone, an indication that it was weathering operational turbulence.

“Flight KQ 782 from Nairobi via Livingstone will return as Flight KQ 783 three times per week with prospects for increased traffic in future,” said Ngunze. South Africa’s High Commissioner to Kenya Ms Koleka Anita Mqulwana, who was part of the maiden flight from Nairobi, described the new route as a boon for business travellers to East and Central Africa not interested in long detours to Johannesburg.

Her sentiments were echoed by Kenya’s High Commissioner to South Africa Ms Jean Kamau. She emphasised the need to ‘Fly African’ to boost continental airlines that are striving to provide the much-needed connectivity.

“Times were when parts of Africa had to be approached via Europe, a phenomenon that is becoming a rarity, hence our celebration on such occasions,” remarked Ms Kamau.