Kenya to launch direct flights to US on 28th October 2018
Non-stop flights between Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and John F Kennedy International Airport in New York will be launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on 28th October 2018.
Though the inauguration of the direct flight is 10 days away, the vibe around it has warmed US travellers, who have made Kenya a sought after destination, surpassing the rival tourists locations such as Mexico, Italy and Europe.
As per local media, bookings for December to Kenya were up by about 28 per cent from last year’s with one operator saying it had placed around USD 8 million worth of business to Kenya.
“One can save more than five hours of travel time and don’t have to deal with a layover,” said Ms Christine Alestra, the director of destination partnerships for Signature.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya
Travelport, a travel agency, reported a 28.8 per cent increase for December bookings to Kenya, compared to last year; while ForwardKeys reported a 27.2 per cent increase in bookings from last month to the end of the year.
The national carrier will become the first airline from East Africa to introduce daily flights from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to John F Kennedy International Airport. The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) chief executive Betty Radier said holidaymakers visiting the country from America would increase in the wake of KQ’s direct flights to the US.
According to figures from KTB, tourist arrivals from the US grew by 16.3 per cent to 95,771 between January and October last year up from 82,363 visitors in the same period in 2016.
The direct flights will also lead to higher bed occupancy for hotels, more direct jobs and business for suppliers.