Kenya Airways temporarily suspends local flights

Already constrained in its activity for a year following the global coronavirus pandemic, Kenya, Airways will suspend part of its domestic flights in 5 of the most affected counties.

The measure comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the sine die cessation of all movement by road, train or plane to and from Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru counties. The decision aims to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country. Kenya Airways said passengers affected by the suspension of a domestic flight can defer reservations or request a refund.

Najib Balala, in particular in charge of tourism in Kenya, clarified that national and international tourists who must return home via Nairobi have until March 29 at noon to be in Nairobi. Domestic flights will cease from March 29, 2021 at midday in the five counties. “Tourists who are in transit through the country and who have to visit the wonders of Nairobi can only do so until Monday 29 at noon. After that date, they will be confined to Nairobi, ”Balala said.

Kenya Airways, in deficit for eight years, experienced “the worst year in airline history” with a record loss, tripled in 2020 (to $ 329.6 million). It had already shut down operations from April to August 2020 “following a directive from the Kenyan government to suspend all scheduled passenger services out of the country in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.” Its domestic flights had officially resumed on July 15, 2020 and international flights on August 1, 2020. In the long term, it is betting on its nationalization, launched in July 2019.