7,000 travellers book KQ flights to the US ahead of inaugural October journey
The inaugural flight alone is more than 80 per cent full
The bookings are spread across the year with the airline stating that the inaugural October 28 flight alone is more than 80 per cent full.
The national carrier, however, expects the flight to be fully booked with last minute reservations.
KQ opened the direct flight bookings in January to allow passengers plan on their travels ahead of time.
Chief executive Sebastian Mikosz had earlier lamented low ticket sales but remained optimistic sales would pick up from this month.
He said the airline’s team in the US commercial hub city were busy chasing deals with travel agents amid stiff competition from other established airlines flying to Nairobi.
Two aircraft
KQ has dedicated two Dreamliner aircraft to the daily flights on the New York route — a night flight from Nairobi and a mid-day one from New York.
The two high-capacity aircraft include one of the B787-8 Dreamliners recalled from Oman Air which will arrive in September.
The other recalled plane, expected in June 2019, will be redeployed on other routes, taking KQ’s Dreamliner fleet to nine.
Passengers on economy class will pay an introductory fee of Sh73,230 for a return ticket between Nairobi and New York on October 28.
The airline said revenues from the route had potential to increase earnings by 10 per cent in the course of 2019.
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