KQ inks deal with Delta on West Africa route

National carrier, Kenya Airways, has inked a deal with American airline Delta that will enable passengers from Nairobi connect easily to New York City through Accra in Ghana.

Currently, passengers have to connect mostly through either London or Amsterdam, which has made flights to the US long and tedious. Other routes through West Africa have proven equally tedious due to long lay overs at the airports as they wait for connecting flights.

Through the new arrangement, KQ passengers departing from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will connect to US through Accra. KQ operates scheduled flights to Kotoka International Airport in Ghana while Delta Airlines flies from Kotoka to John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.
The partnership comes into place as a high level Kenyan delegation led by Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau is in the US pushing for direct flights between Kenya and the US.

A statement by the two airlines yesterday said the flights would start September 1. It will operate three times a week on a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Kenya Airways. Kenya Airways will also take flights between Monrovia, Liberia and Accra previously operated by Delta. “Delta has had a presence in Liberia for four years and we are pleased to be able to continue this association with the country through our new partnership with Kenya Airways,” said Perry Cantarutti, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“This strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines enhances our presence in West Africa and cements our position as Africa’s premier airline,” said Julius Thairu KQ regional General Manager for West Africa, America, Europe & Asia Pacific.