KQ declines to suspend flights to West Africa

Kenya: Authorities yesterday evening insisted Kenya Airways (KQ) would not suspend flights to Ebola-hit regions of West Africa, despite demands by Parliament and a consumer lobby group.

The National Assembly yesterday afternoon passed a resolution asking KQ to suspend flights to West Africa. MPs said they would not allow the national carrier to put the lives of Kenyans at risk by pursuing profits at the expense of health.

But KQ's Chief Executive Officer Titus Naikuni said following advice from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health regarding air operations into West Africa, the airline does not see any major risk that warrants stopping operations in West Africa.

Mr Naikuni, however, said the airline reserves the right to cancel flights should the situation warrant it.

"KQ will not in any way put this country in danger. We are not experts on everything and that is why in this case we are dependent on advice from the various experts, including the Ministry of Health, WHO and IATA," he told a press briefing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), yesterday, adding that KQ crew had been trained to identify any suspected Ebola cases.

According to advice from IATA through WHO, there should be no general ban on international travel or trade and that restrictions outlined in recommendations regarding the travel of Ebola cases should be implemented.

Naikuni dismissed claims that KQ had decided not to cancel flights because of revenues.

SURVEILLANCE

"We are not the only airline operating in those regions. However, we are dependent on the surveillance capabilities in those countries, which reduces the risk significantly. We have been assured by health authorities in those countries that surveillance and screening at the airports conform to the WHO standards," said Naikuni.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the risk in Kenya was not any different from risks in any other country.

"The ministry has increased capacity of health workers by 31 at JKIA to deal with the situation and we are also sending two medical doctors to Freetown and Monrovia to assess the situation on the ground and give us feedback by next week," he said.

The ministry has appointed a 15-member crisis committee to be chaired by Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director Lucy Mbugua to manage any eventualities arising from Ebola.

But Consumers Federation of Kenya officials said they had instructed their lawyers to seek an injunction against Kenya Airways, and Health and Transport Cabinet secretaries following the decision to allow flights to West Africa.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported yesterday that Korean Air Lines Co Limited had announced it would suspend flights to and from Nairobi from August 20 to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

Korean Air, which had been operating three return flights from Incheon, South Korea, to Nairobi a week, said it would determine whether to resume the flights based on a change in conditions. It did not elaborate.

Earlier in Parliament, Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso led MPs in pushing for KQ to stop flying to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea because of the dangerous disease.

"We want this to be stopped as quickly as possible so that we can save the lives of Kenyans," said Ms Laboso.

Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) said it was unwise for the airline to continue  flying to West Africa at a time when European airlines and most other carriers were avoiding the region due to the outbreak.

"Can KQ immediately and forthwith stop flying to West Africa until this issue is sorted out? They seem to know what we don't know. Why would we get ready for our people to die in a 20-bed ward? Are we even ready?" posed Mr Midiwo.

Fear of the disease arises from the fact that it is incurable. They appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to prevail on KQ to stop all flights on the route.

"The instructions should be issued today so that by the end of today we don't hear of any flights coming from West Africa," said Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North).

Robert Pukose (Endebess) and James Nyikal (Seme), both former senior officials in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, asked the Deputy Speaker to order State authorities to explain what measures they had put in place to make sure all visitors and passengers to Kenya are screened.

"KQ is behaving irresponsibly. They are putting money before the health of Kenyans. This is not just a question of public health officers, we should have people trained in disease surveillance; we also ask Kenyans to co-operate with the personnel," said Mr Pukose.

Mr Nyikal said the Health ministry should ensure that there are thorough screening procedures and strict quarantine measures for people suspected to be infected with the disease.

"I want them to tell us about drugs that we have, not only those that treat Ebola but also other diseases; and if the ministry has begun the process of procuring the drug that WHO has approved," said Nyikal.

But Irshad Sumra (Embakasi South) backed KQ for taking the decision, saying the call to suspend flights did not make business sense.