In Summary
- Murkomen noted this will also open doors not only for the national carrier but other airlines.
- KQ suspended its plans to launch the flights to Hargeisa in Somaliland in May 2021 over what it termed as lack of requisite “clearance and approvals”.
Kenya and Somalia, on Wednesday, 9th August, signed a bilateral air services agreement in a major boost to Kenya Airways that has been raring to start flights to the country.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the deal now ‘opens’ the airspaces of the two countries for direct cargo and commercial flights
“This agreement means that airlines will be designated to fly to Mogadishu and Nairobi and the rest will depend on the designations that will be done by respective ministries across the country,”Murkomen said.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement with his Somalian counterpart at his office, the CS noted this will also open doors not only for the national carrier but other airlines.
KQ, Murkomen said, will not be required to write to the ministry for it to get the necessary air transport approvals.
READ Also: Nairobi Express Way Resumes Operations after Maandamano protests.
He added that with the deal, the two countries will support each other in terms of safety and security in the two airspace.
“It makes us operate the way other civilised nations operate under the International Civil Aviation Authority and the Chicago convention that defines our relationship as countries on the use of airspace,” he added.
In May 2021,KQ suspended its plans to launch the flights to Hargeisa in Somalia over what it termed as lack of requisite “clearance and approvals”.
