Airline to launch New York service

Story by NATION Reporter
Publication Date: 9/28/2007

Beginning next June, Kenyans will be able to fly to America without having to pass through Europe, once a leading US airline begins daily services from Nairobi. Delta Airlines will fly four times weekly to and from the Jomo Kenyatta International and John F. Kennedy (JFK) airports, with only stopover being Senegal’s capital of Dakar. The services begin on June 3, 2008. It will increase competition and options for travellers who will not have to fly to Europe in order to connect to flights destined for the US, saving on both time and travel costs.

Being a member of the Skyteam alliance, Delta will link passengers to convenient connecting flights from JFK to 45 business and leisure destinations throughout the United States including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. “The new direct service ... will also serve to increase commercial ties between Kenya and the US by providing a convenient travel option for the thousands of American tourists wanting to discover the beauty of Kenya each year,” said Mr Jimmy Eichelgruen, the airline’s director of sales for Africa, the Middle East and India. Also to benefit are local importers and exporters.

“This is a welcome development for Kenya as a country and a vote of confidence in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a regional hub,” said the Kenya Airports Authority in reference to the planned launch. It is one of several new routes between Africa and New York planned by the airline for 2008. Others include Lagos, Cape Town (via Dakar) and Cairo. In December 2006, Delta launched a nonstop service between Accra, and JFK, and Johannesburg and Atlanta in the US (also via Dakar). It now plans a similar service between Lagos and Atlanta in December this year.

The launch of the Nairobi route next year will bring its African destinations to six. It will operate Boeing 767-300ER aircraft on the Nairobi route, with 214 seats, featuring its top business class service, BusinessElite. Flights between Nairobi and New York JFK, via Dakar will leave Nairobi on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7.30 p.m. and arrive the next day in Dakar at 12.35 a.m. before leaving for New York at 2.05 a.m.

The reason I posted the above article is that several weeks ago I saw on television that starting in 2008 there would be an "open skies" policy which inferred any airline would be able from then on to fly to any destination. It looks as though Delta may be the first U.S. airline flying to Kenya.

It will be interesting to see how and if this works. It could bring a lot more people to Africa than are currently enjoying it. There aren't too many airlines one can now use to get to Nairobi. If more airlines decide to do that route it will bring more people, and perhaps a fare war.

I was just looking up Kenya Airways thinking I might get it in Amsterdam to fly to Nairobi. I found it interesting that KA has flights going to Amsterdam, but I couldn't find one leaving from Amsterdam for Nairobi. Does anyone know what is going on there?

Jan, it is too risky for KA to allow their pilots to fly back from Amsterdam because of the loose drug policy of Holland, haaaahaahaa

No Jan, of course they also fly back from Amsterdam, dunno where and how you looked but there are flights going back.

What I haven't quite understood is where the difference is between stopping over in Europe or Senegal apart from probably cheaper airport fees.

Carsten:

I was looking up flights directly on Kenya Airways.com. I put in the dates I was interested in and could get a flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam but none from Amsterdam to Nairobi. Will try it again this weekend and see if anything comes up.

With the "open skies" it may give us many more choices. Right now from the U.S. the three leading carriers are NW/KLM, British Air or Virgin Air. It would be nice if Kenya Airways also came into the U.S. I know they have been talking about it for some time - perhaps now it will happen.

Jan how specific did you make your dates?
I have known airlines? in Asia to do round trips before return to Kuala Lumpa.
Also could Kenya airways use the services of KLM workshops at Amsterdam & the return flight be 2 or 3 days later instead of the following day as normal.?

kipper:

You may have hit the nail on the head. I'll look into it further trying different dates and see if I come up with anything.