Eswatini Air is planning to introduce Nairobi as its sixth destination, marking the airline’s proposed entry into the East African market as it pursues regional network expansion.
The announcement was made by Ndumiso Shongwe, General Manager and Acting Group Chief Executive of Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC), during a business stakeholder briefing at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha, Eswatini.
According to the airline, Nairobi has been identified as a high-yield market with potential to strengthen revenue and expand its regional connectivity. The proposed service follows the introduction of flights to Lusaka, Zambia, as part of the carrier’s wider growth strategy.
Eswatini Air currently operates from King Mswati III International Airport, serving six destinations across southern Africa. Its network includes Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town in South Africa, Harare in Zimbabwe and Lusaka in Zambia.
The airline is targeting the launch of the Nairobi service within a year of its fourth anniversary in March 2027, placing the proposed commencement within the period leading up to March 2028.
The planned entry would establish a new direct air link between Eswatini and Kenya, potentially creating additional travel options for business travellers, tourism operators and passengers connecting between the two markets.
For Kenya’s travel trade, the proposed route could provide an additional link to southern Africa, while opening opportunities for tour operators to package Eswatini’s tourism attractions alongside other regional destinations.
However, the airline has yet to announce a specific launch date, flight frequency, aircraft deployment or ticket sales arrangements for the Nairobi service.
The planned expansion reflects Eswatini Air’s ambition to grow beyond its established southern African network and establish a presence in the wider African aviation market.
Source : travelnews.co.za