NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 19 – National carrier Kenya Airways has received landing rights from the Angolan Government and is set to begin flying to the nation’s capital, Luanda form August 17, making it the airlines 50th route.
KQ Group Managing Director Titus Naikuni said Angola is a key destination for the airline and its addition is a major milestone for its growing African network.
“We expect to commence operations with two flights a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. The flight will be operated as a code share with TAAG Angolan Airlines between Luanda and Nairobi, giving superb connections that will offer a better way to fly from Angola to the rest of the world and vice versa with seamless connections at the Jomo Kenyatta International Aiport and vast city pairs offered by KQ,” Mr Naikuni said.
The new route is expected to serve traders, corporate, and leisure travelers.
Mr Naikuni said the two flights would be structured to give passengers shorter connection time to Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Far East through its hub at JKIA in Nairobi.
With the addition of the new Angola route, the MD believes Kenya Airways is firmly on its African route expansion path.
“Angola is our 50th destination and the 41st in Africa, making us the forerunners in connecting Africa to Africa and the World,” he said.
The airline also announced the appointment of Belchix as its Ground Service Agent in Angola. The entry into Angola will come soon after the airline started flights to Juba in Southern Sudan in June.
Kenya Airways also took delivery of two additional Embraer 170LR aircraft that have now boosted its fleet to serve the growing regional network.
Another aircraft – an Embraer 190 – is expected to be delivered in November as the airline focuses on building its fleet with narrow-bodied long-range airliners.
Kenya Airways is also now a full SkyTeam member, giving passengers and cargo customers access to a much wider range of destinations all over the world.
