NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27- National carrier Kenya Airways continues to venture into new routes with the latest one being the launch of the direct flights to Bangui, the largest city in the Central African Republic.
The introduction of flights to Bangui brings to 46 the number of destinations that Kenya Airways flies to.
“Travellers on this route are expected to benefit greatly from the superb connections that KQ’s network provides to destinations across Africa, Far-East and Middle East,” said KQ Commercial Director Mohan Chandra.
Mr Chandra said the diamond-rich city of four million people will offer easier connectivity for the importers of food and textiles from major suppliers in France, United States of America, Cote d’Ivoire, Germany and Japan.
“The route will enable investors dealing in diamond, coffee, cotton, timber to access the European markets for the French-speaking nation. There is a lot of traffic from Bangui to the trader routes which Kenya Airways is targeting,” he added.
The airline will operate two weekly flights every Tuesday and Thursday to the Bangui M\’Poko International Airport.
Passengers who buy tickets by October 31, 2009 will enjoy an offer of $46 return fare on the route.
Kenya Airways applies the “fifth freedom” which allows it to carry revenue traffic between these foreign countries as a part of services connecting to JKIA.
The freedoms of the air are a set of commercial aviation rights granting a country\’s airline the privilege to enter and land in another country\’s airspace.
The fifth freedom is between M\’Poko International Airport in Bangui and the Douala International Airport in Cameroon, Mr Chandra explained.
KQ has embarked on an aggressive network expansion with recent route additions being Congo-Brazaville and Libreville; launched in March and June this year respectively.
This route expansion has been accompanied by fleet modernization and a commitment to safety and growing aviation standards in the continent, Mr Chandra said.
