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Kenya’s national carrier set to start offering direct flights to Mogadishu as it stretches its wings to boost trade with Somalia

In recent years, Somalia has risen from the war ashes like the proverbial phoenix bird and has emerged as a key trade all of Kenya.

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  • Kenya Airways is scheduled to launch direct flights from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Somali’s Aden Adde International Airport on Thursday.
  • In recent years, Somalia has risen from the war ashes like the proverbial phoenix bird and has emerged as a key trade all of Kenya.

Kenya Airways is scheduled to launch direct flights from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Somali’s Aden Adde International Airport on Thursday.

“The addition of this route to our network demonstrates our commitment to improving connectivity on the African continent, while creating new opportunities for corporates, investors, traders and tourists”, said Kenya Airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz in a statement.

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The move follows increased demand on the route which Kenya Airways is keen to exploit. KQ’s direct flights to Somalia is expected to help Kenya narrow its widening trade deficit with the war-torn nation which currently stands at Sh99.8 billion.

“With the demand for travel by traders to Somalia through Nairobi increasing, the launch of this route is expected to ease travel between the two cities that are the focal points of business in the two countries and spur commercial activities,’ said the CEO.

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Exports to Somalia increased by 33.5 percent in the first half of the year, making it the third-largest destination for Kenya’s merchandise in Africa after other markets shrunk.

In another impressive feat sure to go down annals of history, after nearly 30 years, Somalia finally reclaimed its airspace from the United Nations in 2018.

Kenya Airways’ daily non-stop flight is scheduled to leave Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 07:40 am on Thursday and arrive in Mogadishu at 9:55 am. It will then depart Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu at 10:45am to arrive back in Nairobi at 1:00pm.

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The airline’s Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 has been designated to serve this latest route that is set to ease travel between the two cities.

Kenya’s national carrier however, follows on the tail lights of Africa’s most profitable airline,  Ethiopia Airlines which started flying to Mogadishu on November 2nd for the first time in four decades.

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