Kenya’s tourism market makes an impressive comeback

  • In the first half of 2023, Kenya’s tourism sector experienced an impressive 31% increase in earnings compared to the same period in the previous year.  
  • The industry’s revenue growth was propelled by a 32% increase in tourist visits, with the number rising from 642,861 to 847,810. 
  • Leading markets for arrivals included the US, Uganda, Tanzania, the UK, and India, while both domestic tourism and visits for business, conferences, and meetings also contributed to the positive trend.

As a result of the continuous global recovery, the tourism industry in Kenya saw a 31% increase in earnings in the first half of the year through June compared to the same time in 2022.

In the last six months, the tourism industry booked Ksh152.6 billion ($1.06 billion), up from Ksh116.2 billion ($807.79 million) in 2022, according to data from the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB).

The revenues increased as tourist visits increased by 32%, from 642,861 to 847,810 in the same time in 2022. One of COVID-19’s hardest-hit industries was international travel and tourism, which is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

“The tourism sector in Kenya experienced a remarkable upswing in international arrivals leading to a positive effect on the country’s tourism receipts,” said the KTB in its report. “This performance is a 92 percent recovery when compared to the 2019 performance of 929,814 arrivals same period. Of significance is that June 2023 arrivals closed at 168,051. This is a growth of one percent when compared to 166,692,” the report adds.

Holidays continued to be the primary reason for entry closure throughout the study period, accounting for 338,509 (39.9%) of all entries. Visits for business, conferences, and meetings came in second with 226,908 arrivals, an increase of 26.8%, while visits to family and friends came in third with 213,417 arrivals, an increase of 25.2 percent.

44,620 (5.3%) people used the transit system. Other goals included sports, medical, education, and religion, totaling 24,356, a gain of 2.9%.

According to the data, the US (118,480), Uganda (89,968), Tanzania (69,777), the UK (65,563), and India (42,805) are the top five countries for overseas arrivals.

Some important markets have outperformed 2019 (January–June) performance, including the US (up 7% from 110,743 to 118,480), Italy (up 15.6% from 22,017 to 25,451), Germany (up 4% from 32,142 to 33,418), Rwanda (up 34.5% from 18,845 to 25,422), and Ethiopia (up 66.1%).

The Netherlands increased by 6.9%, from 19,123 to 20,442, Nigeria increased by 7.3%, from 15,307 to 16,424, Ghana increased by 28.1%, from 5,137 to 6,583, and Russia increased by 40.8 %, from 2,514 to 3,539.

Domestic tourism increased throughout the time period under study, with bed nights concluding the year 2023 (January–June) at 2.3 million, up from 2.02 million. This represents a 16 percent gain. The Easter holidays and business travel, respectively, are to blame for the best-performing months of April and June.

Source: Business Insider Africa

Dubai becomes the world’s greatest tourism success story

Across all metrics, Dubai hospitality and tourism has outdone itself compared to pre-Covid times. 2019 was a record year for the emirate, but 2023 has seen the city pull ahead when it comes to visitor figures, hotel rates and occupancies.

As per the Dubai Media Office, Dubai is the world’s fastest-recovering destination globally. Pulling in 8.55 million travellers in H1 2023, the city is ahead of H1 2019’s 8.36 million feat.

For comparison, United Nations World Trade Organisation estimates that international tourist arrivals could reach between 80-95 percent of pre-pandemic levels this year.

Hotel performance

Dubai’s hotels outperformed pre-pandemic levels across all hospitality metrics in H1 2023 including occupancy, ADR, RevPAR and length of stay. Among the highest in the world, Dubai hotels’ average occupancy of 78 percent is 2.2 percent points higher than the occupancy achieved for the same period in H1 2019.

This growth is particularly noteworthy considering the 13 percent increase in hotel establishments and 26 percent increase in room capacity over the same period in 2019. Continued domestic and international investment into the sector further increased the hotel inventory, and by the end of H1 2023, Dubai’s visitors and residents could choose from a total of 810 hotel establishments and 148,689 rooms, compared to 714 hotel establishments that were open with 118,345 rooms at the end of H1 2019.

The performance of the hotel sector is also evidenced by the fact that the average length of stay of guests increased to 3.9 nights (up from 3.5 nights in H1 2019), highlighting the city’s appeal for longer-stay travellers.

The average daily rate (ADR) of AED534 during the first six months of the year surpassed the ADR of H1 2019 (AED444), a 20 percent growth, while revenue per available room (RevPAR) of AED415 in H1 2023, surged by 24 percent compared to the first six months of the pre-pandemic period of 2019 (AED336).

Dubai tourism source markets

Looking at difference in the tourism landscape between now and 2019, there has been a surge in European business into Dubai.

In the first half of 2023, Western Europe emerged as a significant contributor to tourism arrivals, making up 20 percent of the total international visitation, while the GCC and MENA regions delivered a combined 28 percent of the regional share. South Asia held a 17percent share of the total visitation, and Russia, CIS, and Eastern Europe combined contributed 14 percent. North Asia and South East Asia contributed eight percent while the Americas, Africa and Australasia contributed seven, four and two percent, respectively.

Thanks to wise leadership

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: “The remarkable surge in international visitors witnessed by Dubai in the first half of 2023 further demonstrates its emergence as one of the brightest spots not only in the worldwide tourism sector but also the broader global economic landscape. This accomplishment has been made possible by the foresight of Dubai’s leadership, whose vision and prudent polices fortified its resilience in the wake of global challenges and enabled it to rebound more swiftly than other markets. While the growth of international visitation reinforces Dubai’s rise as a major global tourism destination, it also signifies its status as a pivotal hub for trade, investment and enterprise.

“The Dubai Economic Agenda D33, spearheaded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has outlined an ambitious new trajectory for the city to further consolidate its status as one of the world’s top urban economies and tourism destinations. As a major pillar of Dubai’s economy, the tourism sector will continue to play a key role in realising its future aspirations.”

H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, commented: “This significant uplift in visitation, which surpasses both pre-pandemic levels and marks a new record for Dubai’s tourism sector, is the result of a highly coordinated, sustainable and robust strategy, that is underpinned by a strong execution mandate and driven forward by the vision and continuous support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the emirate’s entire leadership, in line with the 10 year Dubai Economic Agenda D33. 

“These results further add weight to the depth, scale and resilience of Dubai’s tourism ecosystem, both domestically and across the world, all of which have been instrumental to supporting the city’s highly calibrated and agile strategy for advancing growth over the previous decade, mitigating risk and building a comprehensive framework throughout the entire value chain to drive our ambitions for the coming 10 years. It is the strength of these partnerships, and all our stakeholders, that continues to set us apart. We will continue to invest in such partnerships and all factors that drive the growth of tourism and economic sectors over the long term.”

H. E. Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “The H1 industry performance is testament to the future-oriented strategy of our visionary leadership to position Dubai as the best city in the world to visit, live and work. Within a highly competitive global tourism ecosystem, Dubai has continued to accelerate momentum and stay ahead of the curve, primarily by highlighting the diversity of the city’s offerings and the flexibility of our portfolio.  Central to our success in showcasing Dubai as a must-visit destination is fostering multi-level partnerships between the public and private sectors.

“These collaborations with government entities, industry stakeholders and global partners form the backbone of our growth strategy, paving the way for a well-aligned and united cross-sector endeavour to create a unique positioning and drive international visitation, as well as support the wider talent attraction and economic growth agendas. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to delivering memorable experiences to all our guests, residents and the business and MICE community at large, to set new standards and push the boundaries of excellence globally.”

Source: Hotelier

Nairobi To Host East Africa’s Biggest Tourism Expo In November

Nairobi is set to host East Africa’s biggest tourism expo from November 20–22 this year as the country seeks to increase tourist arrivals.

The Magical Kenya & East Africa Regional Tourism Expo (MK & EARTE) 2023 will be hosted at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

It will bring together 160 agents (buyers) from Kenya’s key source markets.

They will then be taken on 3-5-day familiarization trips to sample the products before a three-day business-to-business (B2B) forum with over 25 exhibitors and more than 700 trade visitors.

“The 3-day B2B forum is based on prescheduled appointments with a smart matchmaking tool and guaranteed meetings,” Magical Kenya said in a statement.

EARTE, which is an annual regional travel fair showcasing the region’s diverse tourism and trade opportunities, is hosted by the East African Community partner states on a rotational basis.

The inaugural regional tourism expo was hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) in October 2021 in Arusha.

A subsequent event was held in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, in September 2022.

“As Kenya hosts the third edition of EARTE, the two events MKTE & EARTE have been combined into one event, creating more value and enhancing the level of engagement at the show for all the participants,” it added.

Source: Capital Business

Africa banks on visa-free travel to support tourism

Africa’s tourism is having a moment, two years after the sector was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some countries are pushing for an end to intra-Africa visas, while others are revamping memorials, putting up new archeological sites and introducing longer visa tenures to prop up tourism numbers.

By end of the first quarter of 2023, international arrivals across Africa had hit 88 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with North Africa surpassing 2019 levels by 4 per cent in the same period, according to United Nations World Tourism Organisation data.

Kenya is aggressively campaigning for African integration, headlined by the removal of visa restrictions for citizens from other African countries travelling into the country for business.

Over the next five years, the country has set an ambitious target to boost its tourism numbers to 10 million, about five times its best-ever arrivals number recorded in 2019.

New leadership at the Kenya Tourism Board, a government agency mandated with marketing the destination, confirmed these targets.

“The new board is starting its assignment when the tourism sector is quickly recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that put tourism on its knees,” KTB chairperson Francis Gichaba said in statement.

“Focus will be on the quick-wins to bolster the arrivals.”

Kenya’s rate of tourism recovery in terms of arrival numbers is already 72.4 per cent of pre-pandemic figures, compared to a global recovery figure of 63 per cent, according to Kenya’s 2022 annual tourism performance report.

Since May, Kenya has announced the removal of visa restrictions for citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti and the Comoros.

In February, the governments of Botswana and Namibia signed an agreement allowing citizens of the two Southern African countries to cross each other’s borders without passports.

Botswana has also initiated a discussion with Zimbabwe to scrap passport requirements between their countries. Other countries that have recently initiated talks to remove visa barriers include the DRC and Uganda.

Memorial Tourism

Memorial tourism is also gaining traction across Africa as governments invest in restoring cultural and historical sites.

Ghana wants to see a million tourists every year visiting the newly-refurbished Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. As the first African nation to gain Independence from colonial rule, this cultural heritage site has huge significance for all people of African descent, and the area had been closed for renovations since 2015.

Among the new attractions are a presidential library and Freedom Walk.

“The burial site of Kwame Nkrumah must be appropriate to his status as the outstanding pan-Africanist of this generation and for his exceptional contribution to the liberation of Africa from colonialism and imperialism,” Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said during the park’s reopening.

The country now has plans to build more historical parks and museums.

In Benin, a vast memorial and tourist complex is under construction at the coastal town of Ouidah. The town was once one of the most active slave trading ports in Africa. The route where slaves were taken to ships is lined with monuments that lead to a memorial arch, The Door of No Return.

Work on the modernisation of the area began in 2020 and will entail historical reconstruction of a slave ship, gardens of remembrance and recollection, an artisanal village and a hotel. The project is expected to position the country as a major destination for tourists from the diaspora.

In Egypt, a number of archaeological museums, including one of the oldest, the Graeco-Roman Museum, are getting a facelift and modern fixtures as the country ramps up marketing of its “civilisation journey”.

The country’s newest project, the Grand Egyptian Museum, is possible by the end of 2023, according to independent information site, grandegyptianmuseum.org. It is expected to be the largest archaeological museum complex in the world, hosting more than 100,000 artefacts.

The introduction of a multi-entry visa valid for five years, the extension of some tourist visas to three months and cashless payments at museums, are just some of the measures being taken to drive up Egypt’s arrival numbers and encourage longer stays.

Between January and June, Egypt recorded over 7 million tourists arrivals, and the country projects the number to hit 15 million by year-end, against 11 million recorded in 2022.

Source: The star

Why Africa should also issue travel advisories

By the time you read this, Cape Town’s minibus taxi (matatu) strike should be over. Nevertheless, the impact of the strike, which as I write has been ongoing for four-days, will continue to be felt for quite a while.

The people who suffered the most were the general public, most of whom use the taxis to get in and out of Cape Town for work.

On the day the taxi strike began, thousands of commuters were caught off guard and forced to walk home in the cold and dark of a typical winter evening.

The taxis went on strike following clashes in the week after the City Council began enforcing new traffic by-laws. The new rules allow them to impound vehicles in cases where drivers cannot produce a valid operating licence, or are found to be operating contrary to the conditions of their operating licence.

The councillor in charge of Cape Town’s Safety and Security department, is a hard headed, thick-skinned, no-nonsense type who appears to relish fighting the taxi industry.

For instance, when the trouble hit, the councillor poured oil on the fire.

He said: “I have been asked by the mayor to ensure that the violence caused by some in the public transport sector is met with an appropriate response, and to remind them that we will proceed with impounding 25 vehicles for every truck, bus, vehicle or facility that is burnt or vandalised.”

Of course, as is usual when there is any sort of public unrest anywhere in Africa, our supposed friends in Western capitals are quick to issue travel alerts to their citizens, warning them not to visit.

Even when as in Cape Town, Nairobi and elsewhere, tourists are often the least affected people in such situations. 

Let’s face it, few if any tourists use public transport in the way locals do.

Also, since most of them come from countries where they have experienced public disturbances, such as protests and riots, they should have the sense to stay behind closed doors until the storm passes, or in this case, in their hotels and Airbnbs.

The UK, where they have had their fair share of protests in recent months on issues from cost of living to the environment, appears to have been one of the first to issue a travel advisory to its people who were planning to visit Cape Town.

Considering that the UK is one of the biggest tourism markets, this travel alert is of particular concern. It may well dramatically reduce the number of tourists visiting Cape Town and the Western Cape just as tourism was beginning to think things were looking up.

That said, I have always believed such travel alerts should go both ways. I have yet to see South African or, for that matter, Kenyan authorities issuing travel alerts for situations in Europe or North America, even though they should.

It needn’t be some sort of tit-for-tat reaction. 

For instance, in May, seven countries issued advisories warning their citizens about gun violence when travelling to the US. They are Australia, Britain, Canada, France, New Zealand, Uruguay and Venezuela.

At the moment, the US itself has Level 2 warnings that advise travellers to “exercise increased precautions” in 51 countries, ranging from some of their closest allies (such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK) to the usual suspects.

In this case, the usual suspects are countries that depend a lot on tourism for income, such as Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania.

Others are Brazil, Indonesia, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos and the United Arab Emirates.

Of course, travel advisories can also come from within. For instance, in May, a US Civil rights group issued a travel advisory for Black tourists visiting Florida. The advisory came from the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, specifically, the president of the Tallahassee branch.

The advisory said Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of colour and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Source: The Star

Global passenger traffic hit 94% of pre-Covid levels in June, airlines say

Global passenger traffic continued to improve in June, reaching 94 per cent of pre-Covid levels, as the summer travel season in the Northern Hemisphere got off to a strong start, the International Air Transport Association has said.

Total traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers, rose 31 per cent in June compared to the same month in 2022, IATA said in its monthly report.

In the first half of 2023, total traffic jumped 47.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, buoyed by growth in both domestic and international trips.

Demand for domestic travel in June surged 27.2 per cent compared to the same month a year ago and was 5.1 per cent above the June 2019 levels. Domestic demand was up 33.3 per cent in the first half of 2023 compared to a year ago.

International traffic climbed 33.7 per cent compared to June 2022 with all markets recording robust growth, IATA said. International travel demand reached 88.2 per cent of June 2019 levels. In the first half of 2023, international traffic was up 58.6 per cent from the six-month period in 2022.

“Planes are full, which is good news for airlines, local economies, and travel and tourism-dependent jobs. All benefit from the industry’s continuing recovery,” IATA director general Willie Walsh said.

Middle Eastern airlines’ June traffic climbed 29.2 per cent compared to last year, while capacity rose 25.9 per cent. Load factor, a measure of how well airlines can fill available seats, improved by two percentage points to 79.8 per cent.

African airlines’ traffic rose 34.7 per cent in June from the same month a year ago, the second highest percentage gain among the regions, while capacity was up 44.8 per cent. However, load factor fell by 5.1 percentage points to 68.1 per cent, the lowest among the regions, IATA said.

Travel demand continues to outpace capacity growth amid aviation supply chain problems, leaving airlines awaiting new jet deliveries and critical spare parts for parked aircraft, Mr. Walsh said.

“As strong as travel demand has been, arguably it could be even stronger,” he said.

“For the fleet that is in service, some air navigation service providers are failing to deliver the requisite capacity and resilience to meet travel demand. Delays and trimmed schedules are frustrating for both passengers and their airlines. Governments cannot continue to ignore the accountability of ANSPs in places where passenger rights regimes place the brunt of accountability on airlines.”

Meanwhile, global air cargo demand in June contracted at its slowest rate in 16 months since February 2022, according to IATA, as volumes continue to normalize following the peaks recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Air cargo demand in June fell 3.4 per cent year-on-year, while capacity rose 9.7 per cent during the period, IATA said in its monthly report.

“We remain hopeful that the difficult trading conditions for air cargo will moderate as inflation eases in major economies. This, in turn, could encourage the central banks to loosen the money supply, which could stimulate greater economic activity,” Mr. Walsh said.

Middle Eastern carriers posted a 0.5 per cent increase in cargo volumes in June compared to the same month a year ago. This was up from the 2.9 per cent year-over-year decline registered in May.

Capacity rose 11.1 per cent for the month.

“Both Middle East-Asia and Middle East-Europe route areas saw annual growth,” IATA said.

Source: The National News

Delta Air Lines Expands Partnership with Kenya Airways for More Frequent Flier Benefits

Delta Air Lines (DL) has expanded its codeshare partnership with Kenya Airways (KQ) to offer customers of both carriers more frequent flyer rewards, travel options, and seamless connectivity.

Codeshare expansion

The expanded partnership comes as a great benefit for frequent flyers, as Kenya Airways recently launched its Asante Rewards loyalty program. As such, Asante Rewards and Delta’s SkyMiles members can continue to earn miles and enjoy enhanced frequent flyer benefits.

Kenya Airways will include Delta’s code on its non-stop service between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) and New York JFK, effective August 5, to further strengthen their cooperation. As earlier reported, Delta told Simple Flying that it realizes the potential for growth in Africa and is looking to expand its footprint through its partnerships.

This will provide customers with the opportunity to explore more destinations in the airlines’ respective markets, including 31 destinations in Africa and 57 cities in the United States and Canada. Kenya Airways Group CEO Allan Kilavuka said;

“Kenya Airways prides itself in connecting Africa to the World and the World to Africa. The expansion of the codeshare is historic as it not only allows KQ to expand its footprint in the US but is also significant because it provides seamless connectivity on a single ticket for those traveling for business, leisure, or studies in the US while giving seamless connectivity to those visiting Africa through JFK and KQ’s hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.”

The two airlines have been strategic partners for a while, as they are both SkyTeam members. The last significant codeshare expansion came in June 2022, when KQ placed its code on DL flights from New York to Boston, Buffalo, Norfolk, Rochester, and Syracuse. Similarly, DL added its code on KQ’s enhanced frequencies from Nairobi to Accra, Freetown, and Monrovia.

Africa-North America connections

Kenya Airways currently operates daily Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights from NBO to JFK, the only available non-stop connection between East Africa and America. The African carrier is happy to enhance Africa-North America connectivity and offer the KQ product directly through its American partner.

Delta Air Lines has been operating flights to Africa for 17 years, the longest of any active US carrier. It is seeing significant demand and positive post-pandemic trends for travel between North America and Africa. Having conquered the Northern markets, it has identified Africa as a region of importance and potential growth. Delta’s President of International Alain Bellemare said;

“At a time when we are seeing unprecedented demand for travel between North America and Africa, expanding our strategic partnership with Kenya Airways offers our customers more travel options as well as supports our priority to deepen our presence across the African continent.”

Although it does not fly to Nairobi, the legacy carrier operates non-stop flights to five African destinations from two hubs. From New York, it serves Accra daily and Dakar 3x a week with the Boeing 767. From Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, it serves Lagos daily with the Airbus A330 and Johannesburg and Cape Town with the A350, on its own code.

Source: Simpleflying

Dubai sees record-breaking tourist arrivals: 5 accolades that prove why it is world’s best travel destination

The emirate was one of the first cities in the world to open after Covid-19 following the government’s successful handling of the pandemic

Dubai’s tourist numbers surpassed its pre-pandemic level, growing by 20 per cent to a record 8.55 million in the first half of 2023 as against 8.36 million in H1 2019.

The emirate was one of the first cities in the world to open after Covid-19 following the government’s successful handling of the pandemic, helping it recover faster than its peers. The tourism industry was one of the first beneficiaries of the reopening of borders, with a large number of foreign tourists flocking to the emirate.

There are several reasons why Dubai achieved this feat faster than many other cities worldwide, and in the process, the emirate gathered accolades that proved it is the world’s top destination after Covid-19.

Here are some of them:

Tripadvisor ranked Dubai and tourism-related experiences in the emirate as the best in the world. This was only the second time in history that a city won the coveted award for two years in a row.

In January, the emirate was ranked the world’s best destination for holidaymakers in 2023 in Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards as well. In June, the dune-bashing safari experience in Dubai’s Lahab was ranked first on the travel platform. Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice 2023 also named Dubai’s JW Marriott Marquis Hotel the best in the Middle East.

Travelbag named Dubai the most picturesque and prettiest city at night. “Dubai at night is a cityscape of unparalleled beauty, which is why we’ve crowned it the prettiest city to experience after dark. With an impressive count of 25,905 Instagram posts under the hashtag ‘dubaiatnight’, it’s clear the city holds an irresistible allure for nocturnal adventurers,” it said. The emirate was also named one of the safest cities to walk alone at night, so even solo travellers can take in the sights without worry.

Resonance Consultancy ranked Dubai the best place in the world to live, work, invest and visit in 2023. The consultancy said the world’s deepest pool Deep Dive Dubai, Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa, Museum of the Future, Mohammed bin Rashid Library, Dubai Creek, The Palm and the world’s first and highest 360-degree Infinity pool Aura Skypool are top landmarks and attractions of the world.

A study released by Bounce rated Dubai the most favorite destination for 2023 on the global social media platform TikTok. The emirate was rated the top destination for the second consecutive year with 140.4 billion views, followed by New York (101.8b views) and London.

Condé Nast Traveller magazine rated Dubai the prettiest summer destination in the region and 6th globally. The study is based on Instagram and TikTok hashtags for over 100 cities, unveiling which locations offer the most beautiful shots for summer social media posts. Dubai had nearly 51,000 hashtags on Instagram and 12.2 million on TikTok.

Source: Zawya

KAA drives change to help unlock Africa’s potential

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is taking forward-looking measures, needs-based actions and overarching guidelines such as digitization, technology solutions and sustainability to enhance connectivity and strengthen the Nairobi hub while effectively managing competition.

Managing Director of KAA, Alex Gitari, said: “The strategy highlights the priority placed on route development and actively collaborating with airlines to establish new air connections and increase frequencies on existing routes. This approach recognizes the importance of attracting more airlines and passengers to solidify Nairobi’s position as a key gateway to Africa and a vital link in the global aviation network.”

KAA has taken several measures boost its post pandemic business recovery including friendly health and safety protocols to ensuring passenger confidence and maintaining a safe travel environment.

Gitari underlined those collaborative efforts help streamline operations, address challenges, and create a unified approach to revive the industry.

He said that KAA continues to invest in infrastructure development and expansion projects to meet future demand and enhance passenger experience.

“KAA has formulated a comprehensive development plan for various airports in the country. The strategy includes the construction of passenger terminal buildings at multiple airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Wilson, Ukunda, Migori, Kitale, and Nanyuki. Additionally, there are plans for the development of JKIA’s second runway, taxiway, airfield lighting system, and an aviation rescue and firefighting centre”, Gitari said.

Moi International Airport will undergo ground and slope stabilization for environmental and safety enhancement, while Wilson Airport will see improvements to its runway and apron. Eldoret International Airport is set for a runway extension and cargo apron expansion, and Isiolo Airport will undergo runway and apron extension.

Other priorities include the installation of perimeter and security fencing at JKIA, water reticulation at the airport, construction of parking silos at JKIA and Wilson, and the establishment of solar farms at JKIA, Kisumu International Airport (KIA), Eldoret International Airport (EIA), Wajir Airport, and Isiolo Airport. Additionally, land acquisition efforts are underway in Malindi and Ukunda.

“These development projects reflect KAA’s commitment to improving infrastructure, enhancing safety, and expanding operational capabilities at various airports throughout Kenya and connect efficiently to the aviation global circuit. “

KAA has also invested in digital solutions to streamline processes and reduce physical contact points through online check-in, touchless technologies at the new rehabilitated T1BC, and self-service kiosks at JKIA.

“As a prominent player in the African aviation industry, Kenya will continue to play a leading role in unlocking the continent’s possibilities by actively supporting and participating in the implementation of SAATM.”

“By prioritizing the expansion of air connectivity, Kenya will foster the growth of businesses, facilitate increased trade, promote tourism, and create ample travel opportunities for the burgeoning middle class and working population in Africa”, Gitari said. 

Kenya Airports Authority is also firmly committed to supporting the realization of SAATM’s objectives and actively engaging with stakeholders to advocate for and amplify the benefits that SAATM can bring to the continent as well as exploring opportunities to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional aviation activities and providing training and consultancy services for capacity building within Africa.

KAA is also focusing on expanding its cargo and logistics capabilities to capitalize on the growing demand for efficient supply chain solutions. 

The growth of e-commerce which has accelerated during the pandemic is driving increased demand for air cargo services.

Source: Times Aerospace.  

Kenya, Somalia sign bilateral air services agreement

Kenya and Somalia have signed a bilateral air services agreement handing a major boost to Kenya Airways that has been raring to launch flights to the country.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the deal now ‘opens’ the airspaces of the two countries for direct flights.

“This agreement means that airlines will be designated to fly to Mogadishu and Nairobi…but, this will depend on the designations that will be done by respective ministries across the country,” Murkomen said.

Speaking Wednesday during the signing of the agreement which followed months of negotiations with the Somalian authorities, the CS noted this will not only open door for the national carrier but also other airlines.

KQ, Murkomen stated, will now be required to write to the ministry for it to get the necessary air transport approvals.

The deal, he noted, with see the two countries support each other in terms of safety and security in the two airspaces.

It is anchored on traffic rights, frequency and capacity, code-share and the Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the countries.

“It makes us operate the way other civilised nations operate under the International Civil Aviation Authority and the Chicago convention that defines our relationship as countries on the use of airspace,” he added.

Kenya is a signatory to several air services agreements that facilitates how it designates airlines coming to the country.

The agreement states that on the frequency and capacity, the designated airlines of each party may operate seven weekly frequencies for passenger flights on specified routes while designated airlines operating cargo flights may operate unlimited frequencies. 

Technical cooperatives require that the Kenya civil aviation authority (KCAA) and Somali enhance cooperation on capacity building, personnel training and experience sharing. 

Kenya’s main exports to Somalia include miraa.

KQ’s approval to fly to Mogadishu has been pending for years now.

Somalia initially protested over Nairobi’s strict aviation rules that required stopovers in Wajir, in northeastern Kenya, for security checks.

The carrier suspended its plans to launch the flights to Hargeisa in Somaliland in May 2021 over what it termed as a lack of requisite “clearance and approvals”.

“We currently do not have any flights in operation, contrary to information circulating on social media,” Kenya Airways said in a statement.

Source: The Star