African carrier Kenya Airways is to further strengthen its regional presence with new flights from its hub at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania and Eldoret in Kenya’s Rift Valley due to commence from the start of July.
The SkyTeam alliance member will offer six flights per week to Kilimanjaro, from July 2, 2012 increasing to a daily operation from October 1, 2012; while Eldoret will be served on a twice daily basis from July 4, 2012. Both new destinations will be served using Embraer 170 equipment.
Kilimanjaro International Airport is strategically located between Kilimanjaro and Arusha in Northern Tanzania, in a region that is world famous for its tourist attractions like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge. The route ias already served by Kenya Airways’ partner carrier Precisionair and in 2011 an estimated 66,000 O&D passengers travelled between the airport and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta with a further 12,000 flying to/from Nairobi Wilson Airport
“In line with our plans to exploit the untapped economic potential of the African continent, we have identified Kilimanjaro as a strategic destination in the region owing to the vibrant tourism circuit in the hinterland including the world famous Serengeti,” said Dr Titus Naikuni, Managing Director, Kenya Airways Group.
Nearby Arusha is also the location for several major international bodies including the United Nations; is home to the East African Community and hosts its regional legislative assembly. These will enhance conference and business tourism demand on the route, which will also support the large expatriate community in the area.
Meanwhile, the domestic route to Eldoret, one the major towns in Kenya’s agriculturally rich Central Rift region, will place Kenya Airways in direct competition with local operators Fly540 and Jetlink Express. There are growing passenger volumes on this route as devolution takes root and more businesses take advantage of the unfolding economic opportunities. In 2011 an estimated 89,000 O&D passengers travelled between Eldoret and Nairobi, up 24.2 per cent on the previous year.
“Eldoret is a busy town considering its proximal location to the country food basket. Also, as more people seek opportunities in the counties, we expect passenger volumes to grow,” explained Dr Naikuni.
Kenya Airways will not be new to the Eldoret market as it has previously served the city from its Nairobi hub. Between May 1999 and February 2004 the national carrier provided up to double daily flights on the route using its own aircraft, those of regional subsidiary Flamingo Airlines and partner carrier Eagle Aviation.
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