The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | Kenya Airways is set to become the first airline to offer a non-stop flight between East Africa and the United States of America starting October 2018.
This will enable Kenya Airways join a small club of African airlines that fly directly to the US and enhance Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as a regional hub airport and as the key gateway into East and Central Africa.
The Kenya national carrier this week started selling tickets for the inaugural flight which is scheduled for October 28th. The airline already serves Africa, Europe, Middle-East, Indian sub-continent and Asia.
The opening of the US destination completes an essential piece for Kenya Airways’ network, cementing its position as one of the leading African carriers.
“This is an exciting moment for us. It fits within our strategy to attract corporate and high-end tourism traffic from the world to Kenya and Africa. We are honored to contribute to the economic growth of Kenya and East Africa.” said Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Sebastian Mikosz.
With over 40 American multinationals located in Nairobi and many more across Africa, the launch of daily flights is expected to further spur trade between America and Africa.
Unique travel experience
According to a statement from Kenya Airways, they will offer its customers a unique travel experience between two great gateways. It will be the fastest connection from East Africa to New York, with a 15 hours duration eastbound and 14 hours westbound.
The ultra-long-haul flight, unique to Kenya Airways network, will require 4 Pilots and 12 Flight attendants as well as 85 tons of fuel each way, making it an exceptional operation.
The airline will operate its state of the art Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a capacity of 234 passengers.
The flight will depart every day from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport hub in Nairobi at 23:25 arriving at JFK airport in New York at 06:25 the following day.
From New-York it will depart at 12:25 landing at JKIA at 10:55 the following day. Its duration will be 15 hours east bound and 14 hours west bound.
This convenient schedule will allow connections to and from over 40 African destinations through Kenya Airways hub in Nairobi.
To my knowledge Ethiopian Airlines has always been the pioneering carrier that has been connecting Africa to North America. And currently it reaches to Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles and Canada using the ultra-modern fleet, B787 Dreamliner. FYI, Ethiopian Airlines, the Pan-African Airline, started its operation to Washington DC in 1998. Therefore, the misleading information on the 1st paragraph needs to be corrected.
As per your tag line ‘You buy the truth, we pay the price’, please let us buy the true story ….Ethiopian is the pioneering African carrier in connecting Africa to North America.
Pan Am flew direct flights from JFK to Nairobi, stopping to refuel in Roberts Field, Monrovia. I know because I took many of those flights.