The two flag carriers have signed a crucial interline agreement to increase their reach on the global market. Emirates (EK) and Kenya Airways (KQ) customers will have access to several new destinations on both airlines’ networks within a single itinerary.
The interline, signed today, will increase EK’s footprint in Africa to 148 destinations. It will also provide customers with enhanced travel options, including convenient baggage check-in to their final destinations.
The importance of the agreement
Emirates customers can fly to 28 destinations on Kenya Airways’ network, with Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) as the gateway into East Africa. From NBO, customers can seamlessly travel to Bangui, Bujumbura, Dzaoudzi, Juba, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Nampula, and Zanzibar, to mention a few.
Additionally, Emirates passengers traveling through its Dubai International (DXB) hub can book a single ticket to and from Mombasa Moi International (MBA). Mombasa sees a lot of annual arrivals as it is one of East Africa’s most popular tourist destinations.
EK has been flying to Kenya for about 23 years, while KQ has served the UAE for several years. The two carriers have played a pivotal role in strengthening Middle East-Africa travel, and the new interline agreement highlights the importance of these routes. Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said;
“We are pleased to ink our first partnership with Kenya’s flag carrier. Kenya is a strategic gateway in our Africa network, and this new interline agreement will enhance connectivity for Emirates’ customers and provide them more travel choices across the continent. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Kenya Airways, offering greater network opportunities, and improving connections for both of our customers.”
Flights to Dubai
Kenya Airways passengers traveling through Dubai from Nairobi and Mombasa can access numerous routes on the Emirates network. They can fly to 23 destinations in South and West Asia, the Far East, the Indian Ocean, and the Middle East.
These destinations include Ahmadabad, Bangkok, Beirut, Jakarta, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo. In Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, KQ only flies to Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Dubai International, Hong Kong International (HKG), and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (MOB) airports.
The new agreement will boost KQ’s presence in the East, in line with its route development strategy. Speaking about the partnership, Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said;
“This partnership will provide the ideal gateway for our customers as we seek to increase our connectivity between Africa and the Middle East through Emirates’ hub in Dubai. Partnerships like these are key in aviation as they take advantage of mutual scale and efficiencies to provide customers with more seamless travel options.”
Flights between the UAE and Kenya
East Africa and Kenya have been important destinations for the Middle Eastern carrier over the years. Emirates began its service to Kenya, with flights between DXB and NBO in 1995. Today it operates 14 weekly Boeing 777 flights, having flown over 5 million passengers over the years.
It is also the only Kenya-bound carrier with private, enclosed first class cabins, offering premium customers its elegant and luxurious in-flight experience throughout the journey. The flights are usually about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Similarly, Kenya Airways offers ten weekly B737-800 and B787 Dreamliner flights between NBO and DXB. KQ recently launched four weekly flights between MBA and DXB on the same aircraft. From today, it will provide new schedule choices to 23 eastbound destinations for Emirates.
Kenya-bound travelers can look forward to enjoying Emirates’ comfortable cabins, exclusive services, and its unmissable signature products. UAE-bound passengers can also enjoy Kenya Airways’ exceptional services with its friendly crew.
Source: Simple Flying
