Kenya Airways to fly to Abuja from June 3

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: Kenya Airways is set to introduce direct flights between Nairobi and Abuja in Nigeria, as it expands its footprint across the continent.

From June 3, 2014 Kenya Airways will begin flying four times a week between its hub at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Abuja, located in the centre of the country, is a planned city built largely during the 1980s which replaced Lagos as Nigeria’s capital in 1991. It is the seat of the Federal Government and home to most of Nigeria’s institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Abuja is also the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and the regional headquarters of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The new service will help create new opportunities for business, industry and tourism

The airline’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Titus Naikuni, said that the introduction of direct flights to Abuja was an illustration of the airline’s commitment towards supporting the continent’s development by facilitating intra-African trade, tourism and interactions between different regions.

“This is in line with our long term growth strategy, through which we aim to fly to every African capital by 2016. We are already a premier African airline boasting of the largest network of destinations in the continent,” Dr Naikuni added.