US authorities begin final audit of Nairobi's international airport for direct New York flights
The authorities had earlier on raised a few issues in regard to security at the airport
The exercise to be carried out by officials from American security agency Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will determine whether the country will get the Last Point of Departure (LDP) status.
The audit is critical as national carrier Kenya Airways plans to start direct flights to John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on October 28.
TSA had earlier on raised a few issues in regard to security at the airport including provision of a proper perimeter fence and consistence at the security screening yard.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) however said that they addressed the concerns and remained optimistic of JKIA passing the test.
LPD status
Besides Kenya Airways, the LPD status will also allow airlines that have been approved by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly directly to the US from Nairobi.
JKIA was in February last year given Category One status after several audit processes by FAA that had seen Kenya fail to meet a number of reviews, delaying earlier commencement date of August 2016.
Kenya Airways in January announced that it would commence daily flights between Nairobi and New York, a move industry experts have said would cut flight time between the two cities by more than seven hours.
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