Air France set to resume JKIA flights

An Air France Airbus 300 (Photo: Courtesy)

Kenya’s tourism sector is set for a major boost following the decision of the French national carrier to resume direct flights between Nairobi and Paris that stopped in 2000.

According to a statement yesterday, Air France will fly three times a week between France’s largest airport, Charles de Gaulle, and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) beginnng March 2018.

“As of March 25, 2018, the French national airline will offer three flights a week operated in Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner seating 30 business class passengers, 21 in premium, and 225 in economy,” reads the statement from the firm. 

Departures are scheduled for Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday while return flights will take off from JKIA on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday.

The announcement is the latest incentive for the country’s tourism sector currently on the recovery path following a string of Al Shabaab terrorist attacks and travel advisories from key source markets in the past three years that led to a slump in the industry.

“Direct flights close the loop between consideration and decision, which means that people often look at the number of stops they have to make before they decide on a destination to visit,” said Kenya Tourism Board Chief Executive Betty Addero.

“Any direct flight challenges the landscape of possibilities because it means that your destination is no longer a long haul and that is why we keep advocating more direct flights,” she said.

Stiff competition

The return of Air France is expected to introduce stiff competition for Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways, which currently enjoys code sharing agreements with Air France on the same route.

Europe has long been Kenya’s leading source market for tourists with Britain, France, and Germany ranking high in the number of visitors.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates that France registered one of the highest growths in passenger and cargo traffic last year.