Kenya Airways Launches Direct Flights to Abu Dhabi

(Image: http://www.aldaracademies.com)

Kenya Airways has officially launched its three-times-a-week direct flights to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi, which is the airline’s 61^st destination, becomes the second city in the United Arab Emirates that the airline flies to, after Dubai that it already flies to ten times in a week.

Speaking when he presided over the official launch of the inaugural flight at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Eng. Michael Kamau, noted that the ongoing works to upgrade, expand and modernize the airport would enable it to effectively play its role as a major hub in the region.

“As government, we are committed to finalizing these works on the airport so that we can facilitate Kenya Airways operations and contribute to the region’s development,” Eng. Kamau added.

Kenya Airways’ Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director Titus Naikuni said that the airline had decided to commence flights to build on its existing relationship with Etihad Airways, with which it has already signed a codeshare agreement.

“The way the aviation business works is that it helps when you have a relationship with someone in a destination where you are flying to,” Dr Naikuni stated.

Under the codeshare deal, Kenya Airways places its KQ code on Etihad Airways’ service between Nairobi and Abu Dhabi, and onwards to destinations on Etihad’s global network, providing passengers with connections over Abu Dhabi to destinations across North Asia, South East Asia, the Indian sub-continent and Australia. In return, Etihad Airways will now place its EY code on Kenya Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to Nairobi, and onwards to destinations across the Kenya Airways network in Africa.

The launch was also attended by the United Arab Emirates’ and Minister Plenipotentiary, His Excellency Hassan Issa Al Hosani; Managing Director of the Kenya Airports Authority Eng Stephen Gichuki; Kenya Airways’ Chairman Evanson Mwaniki and the airline’s senior management.

Kenya Airways will be flying to Abu Dhabi, a cosmopolitan centre of business and a tourist attraction, which is also the capital of the United Arab Emirates and gateway to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.