Kenya Airways has officially started flying directly to London Gatwick, marking a new chapter for the national airline. This new route from Nairobi adds to their growing network and is expected to perform well financially.

According to Kenya Airways’ top managers, they believe this Nairobi–Gatwick route could start making profits in less than a year. With the addition of this new service, Kenya Airways now operates 10 flights to London each week.

Passengers boarding the Boeing 787-8 for the first Gatwick flight may not have realized how important this journey was. Kenya Airways says the new route adds around 700 extra seats for travellers, boosting their overall passenger capacity.

So why was Gatwick chosen? Julius Thairu, the airline’s Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, explained during the 2025 KATA AGM & Convention that London is already one of their biggest revenue sources, contributing over 10% of the airline’s total earnings. But beyond revenue, he emphasized the importance of making that income profitable.

Speaking at the launch event, Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said the Gatwick route would help move more cargo, increasing their freight capacity by nearly 40%. This means goods can travel faster between Kenya and the UK, opening more doors for Kenyan exporters.

Government leaders also welcomed the move. Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said he was hopeful the route could soon grow into a daily service, up from the current three flights per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

“This is the kind of strategic growth we want to see from Kenya Airways, adding strong routes that support expansion and bring profits,” said Chirchir.

Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Teresia Mbaika, added that aviation plays a key role in the country’s economy, contributing 3.1% of Kenya’s GDP and supporting 46,000 jobs. She said creating more flight opportunities like this one is essential for the industry’s and the country’s growth.

The first flight took off in Nairobi and, after about eight and a half hours, landed at London Gatwick. It carried 171 passengers, marking the beginning of what the airline hopes will be a successful and long-running service between the two cities.

Source: Kenya Airways

Across the globe, travel expos have become cornerstone events for networking, product showcasing, and destination marketing. From renowned global showcases like ITB Berlin, World Travel Market (WTM) London, and Arabian Travel Market, to Africa’s own Africa’s Travel Indaba, Sanganai/Hlanganani in Zimbabwe, and Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE), these platforms bring together industry stakeholders under one roof. In Kenya, such expos continue to grow in impact, offering a vibrant space for local and international brands to engage meaningfully with trade partners and consumers alike.

The idea of having exhibition booths in an open space or even a hall, each promoting their business, seems like another market day. Over the years, travel expos have morphed into intimate spaces that allow for conversations, stronger connections with the brand, and ultimately, loyal clientele. They are themed to serve a certain need, and all exhibitors align their products to meet that need. It has become almost impossible to attend an expo with a specific need and leave without a solution, as they have become more targeted.

The primary purpose of an exhibition in every industry is brand positioning and boosting sales. It is a marketing strategy that seeks to engage directly with potential clients while collecting one-on-one feedback from them to curate personalized products or solutions, or to make existing products better serve their needs.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) is among the organizations that have embraced the idea of impactful exhibitions in the travel and tourism space. In addition to partnering with like-minded organizations such as Houston Marketing, which recently held the Nairobi Spotlight Expo, and Sarit Expo Centre, a key player in hosting sector-focused events, the association has found a way of blending its signature events with a touch of exhibition. The just-concluded 2025 AGM & Convention held at PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort in Mombasa brought this out perfectly.

Having a stand or an exhibition booth is one thing, but getting visitors is another. In travel exhibitions, motivations to visit a stand vary from acquiring information about a product to buy, fishing for special or discounted deals, being attracted by the booth’s aesthetic design, being familiar with the brand, or simply wanting to connect with the exhibitors.

As a sales promotion opportunity for exhibiting partners, KATA made an effort to ensure that at least 75% of the delegates at the 2025 KATA AGM & Convention visited the booths. The association designed a special card to be signed by exhibitors after a visit. Delegates then dropped the completed card into a raffle bowl to win special prizes. While there are obvious gaps in this strategy, it ensured that the booths did not remain empty.

Exhibitors included Sarova Hotels, Delta Airlines, Swift Response, Tbo.com, Triply.co, Sapphire Hotels, Telvoip, Vipingo Development, WebBeds, Kenya Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines, Visa, Jambojet, Skyward Airlines, Amadeus, Flightlink, The Route Stop, White Star Cruise & Travels, Nucore, The Tour Designers, Tengesi Collection, NBCAIG Insurance, and Mira Heights. They appreciated the forum as a well-curated space for direct engagement, lead generation, and brand exposure. With increasing specialization and targeted experiences, travel expos are fast emerging as the next big thing in tourism marketing.

_{By Felix Wakiuru}

We’ve all been there – you think you’ve found a decently priced budget flight to a European destination, only to be hit with a huge fee for your hand luggage. Well, it looks like those days are numbered, as lawmakers have just voted to scrap hand luggage fees on airlines across the European Union.

The proposal will allow holidaymakers to travel with carry-on luggage up to 7 kilograms with no extra fee – and that’s on top of your under-the-seat backpack, too.

According to the European Parliament’s press release, vice-president of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism Matteo Ricci said the move ‘marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel’ and will ‘introduce concrete measures such as the clear definition of free hand luggage up to a maximum size of 100cm, a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs.’

Obviously, this is a massive win for travellers, but not everyone’s happy about it. It’s expected to hit low-cost airlines particularly hard – Ryanair, for example, made €4.7 billion last year from charging extra fees like seat selection and baggage costs.

While airline lobbies have warned that the ruling could mean carriers will end up increasing their ticket prices to make up for the costs, the ruling is part of wider reforms proposed by the European Parliament on passenger rights. 

Further measures include allowing children under 12 to sit with their accompanying passenger free of charge, granting free seats to carers of people with reduced mobility, and forcing airlines to disclose the full cost of flights upfront.

All in all, this is very good news for passengers. It’s not clear when the ruling will kick in, as the proposals still need to get the final green light in a parliamentary vote. Keep an eye on this page for further details.

Source : timeout.com

Tanzania’s Arusha Airport is now able to receive international flights, following an announcement in June 2025 by Arusha’s Regional Commissioner Paul Christian Makonda. This follows an infrastructure upgrade, and is expected to positively impact Tanzania’s tourism sector and ease access to the country’s northern safari circuit.

The development, led by the Tanzania Airports Authority, includes immigration and customs services. Flights have already begun operating to Nairobi, Kenya, with services offered by regional carriers such as Safarilink and AirKenya.

The infrastructure upgrade, costing TZS11 billion (€3.3 million), includes runway extensions, installation of landing and taxiway lights, and terminal expansions. These allow for 24-hour operations and increased passenger capacity.

Previously, the best option was to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, 50km away, or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, requiring additional travel. The new international capacity at Arusha Airport is expected to improve access and reduce travel time to key tourism sites such as Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and Arusha National Park.

Amenities at the upgraded terminal include duty-free shops, a restaurant, security screening systems and transportation services such as taxis and hotel shuttles. Passenger capacity has increased to accommodate 1 000 travellers at a time.

While the airport is operational as an international facility, no confirmed services for long-haul flights have been announced.

Source : Travel News

In an exciting development for travellers, Tanzanian regional airline Flightlink has unveiled a new direct flight route from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Zanzibar, effective 1st July 2025. The move marks a bold step in expanding regional air connectivity and offers a much-anticipated link between Kenya’s bustling capital and Tanzania’s idyllic spice island.

Whether you are a local resident seeking a seamless weekend getaway or an international visitor looking to pair a Nairobi safari with a beachside escape, Flightlink’s new route brings Zanzibar within easy reach. With daily departures and well-timed flight schedules, travellers can now transition effortlessly from cityscape to seascape.

From JKIA to Paradise

This new service is set to redefine regional travel convenience. By operating out of JKIA — Kenya’s busiest international hub, Flightlink ensures that passengers arriving from Europe, Asia, and the Americas can connect directly to Zanzibar without the need for complex domestic transfers.

“Zanzibar is a dream destination, and now it’s just a short, direct flight away from Nairobi’s JKIA,” said Captain Afzal Kermeli from Flightlink. “We’re excited to give Kenyan travellers and international visitors alike a faster, easier, and more comfortable way to experience the magic of Tanzania’s coast.”

Comfort Meets Convenience

The JKIA-Zanzibar flights will be operated using modern ATR 72-500 aircraft, offering a smooth and spacious travel experience. Each passenger will enjoy a generous 23kg baggage allowance, perfect for both vacationers and business travellers. Flightlink’s regional booking systems are also tailored to support travel agents and tour operators in planning seamless East African itineraries.

A Gateway to More Adventures

This expansion into Kenya marks a milestone for Flightlink, a carrier with over 20 years of experience across Tanzanian skies. The airline is best known for its connectivity to Serengeti, Dar es Salaam, and Arusha, and now, with Nairobi added to its network, Flightlink is making cross-border travel simpler and smarter.

In addition to the Nairobi–Zanzibar route, Flightlink will also launch flights between Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and Arusha. This second route is designed to serve safari-goers, offering early morning departures and return flights that align with popular tour schedules.

As demand for intra-African travel continues to rise, Flightlink’s new routes signal a growing commitment to unlocking regional tourism potential and making East Africa more accessible than ever.

Bookings Now Open

Travellers and agents can book flights or learn more at www.flightlink.co.tz or book with their KATA certified Agent Here. Trade partners interested in collaboration opportunities may contact the Kenya office via marketing.kenya@flightlink.co.tz.

British Airways has cancelled flights to Dubai and Doha after Donald Trump ordered a US attack on Iran’s nuclear sites.

British Airways (BA) has suspended all flights to Dubai and Doha following a U.S. military strike on Iranian nuclear sites ordered by US President Donald Trump. The sudden escalation in the Middle East has raised serious safety concerns for airlines operating in the region.

The move came shortly after BA flight 109, which departed from London Heathrow to Dubai at 9:53 p.m. on Saturday (June 21), was forced to divert mid-flight. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner reached Saudi Arabian airspace before abruptly changing course and landing in Zurich, Switzerland, according to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24.

On Sunday, the airline confirmed the cancellation of all scheduled flights between London Heathrow and the Gulf cities of Dubai and Doha, including return journeys. Over 1,000 BA passengers currently stranded in the United Arab Emirates are awaiting alternative arrangements after four flights from Heathrow to Dubai were cancelled.

The disruption follows overnight U.S. airstrikes on three nuclear test sites in Iran, which prompted an immediate retaliatory missile barrage from Tehran targeting Israel. In response, Israel has closed its airspace to both incoming and outgoing flights, intensifying regional travel complications.

Emirates Airlines, based in Dubai, confirmed it is continuing operations as normal for the time being.

In a statement, British Airways said:
“As a result of recent events, we have adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew, which is always our top priority. We are contacting affected customers to advise them of their options while we monitor the situation closely.”

BA has introduced a flexible booking policy for passengers scheduled to travel to Dubai or Doha between Sunday and Tuesday, allowing them to change their travel dates without penalties.

As the situation in the region continues to evolve, travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.

Source: Wandsworth times

I don’t enjoy long travels very much. I don’t romanticize long drives or pretend to enjoy the slow, torturous unraveling of tarmac over endless kilometers. My spirit grows weary halfway through a journey, and my patience packs up and abandons ship not long after. Add a carful of overly chatty companions who think every turn in the road deserves a full TED Talk, and I start fantasizing about how legally questionable it might be to hurl someone out at the next police roadblock. But when the call came to go stargazing in Samburu last weekend – to witness the universe show off where the city lights can’t interrupt – I couldn’t say No. Something about the cosmos whispering across the savannah felt… worth the inconvenience. So I packed my bags, braced for the company, and prayed for minimal small talk and maximum starlight.

The journey to Samburu was a test of endurance, patience, and lower back flexibility. Over six hours in a tour van crammed with some of the most talkative media minds in the country; journalists with big voices and even bigger opinions. We told stories and shared industry secrets and bad jokes. By the time we rolled into the Samburu National Reserve, the sunset was politely waiting to show off; golden, dramatic, smug.

We were in Samburu to witness Kenya’s official leap into astro-tourism, unveiled by the brilliant minds at Leo Sky Africa in partnership with the breathtaking Samburu Sopa Lodge – a place so charming it feels like it was built straight out of a Samburu elder’s dream. The lodge doesn’t just sit in the landscape; it belongs to it. Warm, cozy cottages designed in the shape of traditional Samburu huts dotted the hillside like little domes of welcome, each crowned with thatched conical roofs and wrapped in earth-toned walls that whispered, “karibu nyumbani.”

As we stepped out of our van, slightly dazed from the long drive, we were greeted by a vibrant chorus of Samburu singers – all smiles, beads, and rhythm. Their voices rose like prayer and laughter combined, echoing off the acacia trees and bouncing straight into our tired, grateful hearts. The sun was just beginning its golden descent, the air smelled like dust and possibility, and for a moment – just a moment – we all stopped scrolling, filming, complaining, or tweeting. We had arrived. And the welcome was celestial even before we saw a single star.

A journey through the skies

Astro-tourism, in the simplest terms, is what happens when your holiday stops at the stars – quite literally. It’s where travel ditches the usual suspects (beaches, buffets, and bush drives) and takes a bold, romantic detour upward. Imagine swapping the Big Five for the Milky Way, your sunset cocktail for a constellation map, and your lodge entertainment for tales of Orion’s misplaced belt and Andromeda’s cosmic family drama. It’s part science, part stargazing, and a whole lot of “wow, is that really Jupiter?” It’s tourism for people who want their minds blown gently by the universe while still wrapped in a Maasai shuka. And in Samburu’s case, it’s proof that the sky isn’t the limit – it’s the newest destination.

If you’re going to chase stars, you might as well start from where the sky behaves best – and that place, according to experts, is Samburu. Which is why gathered at the Samburu Sopa Lodge, under the moonlit sky on Saturday, June 14, 2025, to witness the wonders of the sky taking center stage in a new, historic and ambitious venture.

At around 10pm, with the air cool and crisp and the Milky Way stretching lazily across the sky like a divine brushstroke, we gathered around a glowing bonfire – the kind that crackles not just with warmth, but with anticipation. The moment felt almost sacred. One by one, Samburu guides and naturalists stepped forward, each taking their turn like celestial storytellers on a stage older than time. Armed with nothing but laser pointers and an impressive grasp of both Science and Samburu lore, they painted the sky for us – quite literally.

With sweeping gestures, they connected dots in the darkness, outlining constellations we’d only ever seen in textbooks or horoscope apps. There was Leo, bold and boastful, prowling through the stars; Orion, the eternally flexing warrior with his glimmering belt; and Andromeda, the cosmic damsel with a dramatic backstory and a galaxy to her name. Each tale was told with a mix of scientific precision and cultural flair, turning astronomy into something deeply human – intimate, enchanting, and oddly grounding. The stars were no longer just distant lights; they became characters, stories, ancestors… reminders that long before apps told us the weather, people here looked up and found meaning.

About an hour later, just as the fire began to mellow and our necks grew stiff from stargazing wonder, we were ushered away from the open sky and into something that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi film set; a manmade dome, Samburu’s own version of a planetarium. We filed in, twenty at a time, settling close to each other in a space that felt oddly intimate, like a cosmic confession booth. Once seated, the dome came alive with a real-time visualization of the sky; not just the stars above us now, but also how they looked earlier that morning and how they’d shift in the hours ahead. It was like watching the universe rewind and fast-forward on command.

Here, the constellations became even sharper. We zoomed in, panned across the heavens, and found ourselves staring Saturn right in the rings – a sight so crisp it made you want to reach out and give it a spin. Our guide walked us through the wonders of the sky with the enthusiasm of a Science teacher on is third espresso. Here’s a fun thing I learnt: Regulus, one of the brightest stars in constellation Leo, is 79 light years away. And light travels at 300,000 kilometers per second – so if you decided to go crazy and travel to Regulus using a plane, it would take you 95 million years to reach that goddamned star. Fun, huh?

It was a Science class, Yes – but delivered with charm, wit, and just the right amount of existential crisis. And somehow, being that small in the face of the universe felt strangely comforting.

Why Samburu?

Samburu has always been the cool cousin of Kenya’s safari circuit – a little wilder, a little less crowded, and a whole lot more unique. Sure, you’ll still find the classic Big Five flexing their muscles somewhere in the neighbourhood, but this region doesn’t just recycle what the rest of Kenya offers. It boasts its own “Special Five” – a roster of wildlife so rare and fabulous they sound like they belong on a red carpet.

I’m talking about the Grevy’s Zebra with its tight pinstripes; the Reticulated Giraffe with a coat that looks hand-painted; the Beisa Oryx with its deadly elegance; the Somali Ostrich, which is taller, darker, and sassier than the regular; as well as the Gerenuk – that long-necked, high-jumping antelope that looks like it moonlights as a yoga instructor. These animals are Samburu exclusives – found nowhere else in Kenya with this kind of reliability.

But Kennedy Ayoti – Chief Operating Officer, Sopa Lodges East Africa – is out here raising the stakes. When we sat down with him earlier that evening, he told us; “You know, people come to Samburu for the Special Five – but you come to Samburu Sopa Lodges for the Special Six; nobody else has the sixth one, astro-tourism. It’s a differentiator for us, and we believe it’s going to raise us in the map.”

And honestly, he’s right. Because once the sun dips behind those rugged hills and the animals take their bow for the night, the real show begins above – a cosmic safari of stars, planets, constellations, and myth. Samburu has now become the only place in Kenya where lions prowl by day and Saturn winks at you by night.

Experts, too, have their own scientific receipts for why Samburu isn’t just a pretty face in the Kenyan wild – it’s a legitimate VIP lounge for the cosmos. According to the passionate Leo Sky Africa Founder and Managing Director Kimani Wa Nyoike; “Samburu is located on the Equator – which means you’re able to see both the Northern and Southern hemispheres’ constellations in one sitting.”

In simple terms: it’s like having front-row seats to two completely different concerts at once. While your friends in South Africa are busy gawking at the Southern sky alone, Samburu lets you peek into both worlds – the celestial North and the galactic South – without moving a muscle. Add to that the region’s high elevation, consistently clear skies, and minimal light pollution, and what you’ve got is a scientifically blessed viewing deck that would make even professional astronomers shed a tear of joy.

As Nyoike cheekily puts it: “What South Africans see, we see too – but we also see what they can’t, like the skies in Egypt. Let’s put it like this; if astro-tourism was a concert, South Africa would be the Regular section, and Kenya would be the VVIP…we have a clearer view.”

For those at the back, in astro-speak, that’s the equivalent of telling the rest of the continent, “Stay humble.”

The morning after…ruined by Birdman

Now, you’d think a story this magical would end with us watching a lion yawn at sunrise, or an elephant photobombing a group selfie. But No. Enter that one annoying person in every trip – a birdwatcher, in our case.

The morning after the stargazing gala, we woke up at stupid o’clock for a game drive. Hopes were high – lions, leopards, at the very least, an aloof giraffe. But this man, camera strapped like a sniper, a mask covering half his face, hijacked our van with one agenda: birds.

Tiny birds. Beige birds. Birds you couldn’t even see without an aerial zoom and the Lord’s favour. Every two minutes, he made the driver stop. “Wait! I think that’s a buff-belied warbler!” He would squeal, and we would lean out expectantly, only to find nothing but what seemed to us – normal human beings – as a distant pebble on a twig.

By the time we reached the area where big game is usually spotted, the sun was high, the cats had gone to brunch at Golden Ice, the giraffes were probably shopping in Zanzibar, and our souls were weary. I couldn’t believe I lost sleep for that. I went back to my room after that game drive with 67 photos of flying insects and an unshakable grudge against birds.

Source: Citizen Digital