KQ closes deal to have unlimited flights to Seychelles

Before the ink has even dried on the historic Kenya-Seychelles trade agreements, fruits of the bilateral meeting are already emerging.

On Monday President Danny Faure of Seychelles and his counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta held bilateral talks and agreed on a number of trade agreements among launching a two-centre destination marketing strategy where the two countries will jointly promote their tourism products.

The Kenya Airways has now secured unlimited frequency of flights to Seychelles, boosting its turnaround strategy as well as reviving its pride of Africa image.

KQ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) yesterday to increase its weekly flights to one of the world most popular tourist destination.

"This partnership will also underscore the important role that Kenya Airways plays in the African economy development, specifically creating vital linkages between the continent and the international market on which tourism and other key sectors depend on and thrive, " Kenya Airways outgoing chief executive Mbuvi Ngunze said.

Seychelles Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marines minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said KQ is, however, free to increase its flights from currently four to any number depending on its capacity.

"Kenya Airways is not restricted it can go even to seven or more. This is an open agreement," Lalanne said during the signing of the deal at the Ministry of Transport.

KQ is also looking forward to add USA to its destinations before the end of the year but has clear some hurdles first.

Kenya Airways will also explore through this the opportunity to have regular cargo freighter flights on the request of the Seychelles government based on demand for products from Kenya.

The MOU covers promoting intra-Africa tourism, joint marketing and participation in events across Africa, and stakeholder education.

Kenya Airways has operated into Seychelles since 1972 then as East African Airways and today flies four times a week to the island off the coast of Indian Ocean.

This deal comes on the backdrop of another significant deal early this year where the national carrier is set to launch direct flight to Victoria falls.

Intra Africa traffic grew by 14 percent in the last half of FY 2016/17 as the airline strategically sought to win in Africa.

“The MOU will see STB tap into advertising opportunities on the airline’s platforms while STB will market the Kenya Airways as the preferred airline partner to Seychelles.” Cabinet Secretary of Transport, James Macharia said on the MOU.