NAIROBI( Halbeeg News)- Kenya Airways has postponed the launch of direct flights from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Somali capital Mogadishu.
The national Carrier of the East African nation has initially slated the resumption of its direct flights to Mogadishu for 15th November.
Kenya Airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz has announced the delay in the launch of daily flights to Somalia to December 5 2018.
According to Mikosz, the delay is due to additional airline and operational requirements beyond their control.
“We are engaging the relevant authorities on the necessary approvals and we expect to finalize this process as soon as possible and officially start operations for this eagerly awaited route,” Mikosz said in a statement.
The flights to Somalia will be operated by its subsidiary Jambojet using Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft.
The flights will depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi at 07:40 and depart Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu at 10:45 to arrive back in Nairobi at 13:00.
In March last year, Kenya and Somalia opened a new charter of cooperation by announcing plans to open two border posts and a re-launch of direct flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu in an effort to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services.
Traders in Somalia continue to help to boost flagging Kenyan trade, lifting the country into third place among Kenya’s most important trade partners in Africa.
According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Somalia is positioned as one of the largest export markets for Kenya.
In 2017, exports to Somalia increased by 33.5 per cent, which equates to a value of KSh 10.7 billion.
The economy of Somalia is growing, hundreds of expatriates are returning from the west or African nations, scores of colleges are opening to cater for the young population and there is growing investment from the diaspora.
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