Kenya Airways is to become the first airline to offer a non-stop flight between East Africa and the United States, when the carrier commences non-stop daily flights from Nairobi to New York from 28th October this year. The firm has already started selling tickets for the inaugural flight.

 

The airline already serves Africa, Europe, Middle-East, the Indian sub-continent and Asia. The opening of the US destination completes an essential piece for Kenya Airways’ network, cementing its position as one of the leading African carriers.

 

“This is an exciting moment for us,” said Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Sebastian Mikosz. “It fits within our strategy to attract corporate and high-end tourism traffic from the world to Kenya and Africa. We are honoured to contribute to the economic growth of Kenya and East Africa.” 

 

With over 40 American multinationals located in Nairobi and many more across the wider region, the launch of daily flights is expected to further spur trade between America and East Africa.

 

“An exceptional operation”

 

Kenya Airways has said it will offer its customers “a unique travel experience between two great gateways”. It will be the fastest connection from East Africa to New York, with a flight time of 15 hours eastbound and 14 hours westbound. The ultra-long-haul flight, unique to Kenya Airways network, will require four pilots and 12 flight attendants, as well as 85 tons of fuel each way, making it what the carrier described as “an exceptional operation”.

 

The airline will operate its state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a capacity of 234 passengers. The flight will depart every day from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) hub in Nairobi at 23:25, arriving at JFK airport in New York at 06:25 the following day. From New York, it will depart at 12:25 landing at JKIA at 10:55 the following day. 

 

This convenient schedule will allow connections to and from over 40 African destinations through Kenya Airways hub in Nairobi, the airline said.