KQ moves West Africa flights to new terminal

What you need to know:

Kenya Airways in a press statement said that all International flights will from February 11 depart from the new terminal.
KQ had last year migrated 80 per cent of International flights to the terminal but left 20 per cent of flights most of which are destined to West African capitals.
Terminal 1A was constructed by Kenya Airports Authority at Sh9.3 billion.

National carrier Kenya Airways has moved flights destined for West Africa and Central Africa to the modern Terminal 1A at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, completing the six month migration work.

The airline in a press statement said that all International flights will from February 11 depart from the new terminal.

“Flights to the following destinations will now depart from Terminal 1A Douala, Lubumbashi, Brazzaville, Cotonou, Accra, Abidjan, Bamako, Abuja, Lagos and Dakar,” read the statement.

KQ had last year migrated 80 per cent of International flights to the terminal but left 20 per cent of flights most of which are destined to West African capitals.

“80 per cent of all International flights migrated to the new Terminal 1A in 2014, while the other 20 per cent flights to West Africa and Central Africa remained in Terminal 1C,” said KQ.

In August, the airline transferred flights to Entebbe, Luanda, Delhi, Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam to the new hub. The five flights are among 15 international flights KQ migrated in 2014.

Terminal 1A was constructed by Kenya Airports Authority at Sh9.3 billion. The terminal exclusively used by KQ and its partner airlines.

The hub is the epitome of comfort and luxury with numerous check-in counters to ease customer service experience. The terminal has traffic capacity of 2.5million passenger annually.

Domestic flights will continue to operate from Terminal 1D.

KQ in November posted half- year a net loss of Sh10.5 billion which it blamed on slow growth in passenger traffic.

The airline passage numbers increased by 8.2 per cent to 2.1million compared to 1.94million in 2013.

KQ also suffered losses from the suspension of flights to West African routes hit by Ebola epidemic. Regional insecurity the airline reckoned has also reduced travel to Kenya.

READ: KQ sees Sh4bn revenue loss after West Africa flights ban

Insecurity has grossly affected investments in hospitality with some hotel shutting down. Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers on Tuesday said 22 hotels in Kilifi have closed since last year due to decreased tourism arrival in the country.