The inaugural Kenya Airways (KQ) direct flight from Nairobi to New York touched down at New York’s JFK International Airport.
A jovial President Kenyatta led top Government officials and dignitaries in the short but highly significant ceremony to mark the start of a new journey for Kenya’s national carrier.
The President flagged off a KQ Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 234 passengers from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport .
The long-haul flight will last 15 hours, reducing the journey by over 7 hours.
The inaugural flight to New York is a major milestone for Kenya’s aviation sector especially for the numerous economic opportunities in sectors such as tourism and trade.
A direct air link with the United States will give Kenya increased access to the large US economy, the biggest in the world, as well as the entire North American region.
JKIA is already one Africa’s busiest air transport hubs in Africa, and the launch of direct flights to New York is expected to elevate its importance and cement Nairobi’s position as one of Africa’s biggest economic movers.
Kenya Airways already serves at least 40 destinations in Africa alone and also flies to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Indian Sub Continent.
