Why Trump's administration is delaying Kenya's direct flights to USA

david nganga

May 24, 2017 3:50 PM

Kenya to wait longer to begin direct flights to the US

Kenya’s plans to begin direct flight to the US have been halted after the American government postponed a security audit.

According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) MD Gilbert Kibe, the US Transport Security Administration ought to have conducted an assessment of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in June to test its preparedness for direct flights.

The reason behind the postponement still remains unknown though it is believed that the US seeks to go on with the assessments after the August 8 elections.

Also read: Hurdles KQ needs to clear first before landing on the US soil

The purpose of the audit was to ensure that Kenya has put in place the necessary security measures to guarantee direct flights between the two countries.

JKIA was granted the Category One status following several audit processes by the US air agency Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that saw Kenya fail to meet a number of reviews; whose earlier commencement date was slated for August 2016.

Kenya Airways plans on starting direct flights to the US in April but the postponement of the assessment process may force a review.

Kenya has been moving with haste in order to attain the Category one status with plans to expand the airport already underway.

KQ submitted its application for direct flights to the United States, targeting June 2018 for the inaugural landing in Nairobi.

The rigorous licensing is expected to take about eight months, marking the next step after US authorities awarded the Category One security and safety status in February.

david nganga