Moroccan airline entry steps up price war on Nairobi route

Royal Air Maroc’s entry into Kenya is stepping up the price wars for local and international flyers.

The Moroccan national airline had its first flight to Nairobi last week with introductory offers on the carrier’s flights being nearly 30 per cent less than the current charges by rivals on some routes. 

The airline has introduced return flights for as low as Sh49,000 ($490) between Nairobi and Europe, Sh79,000 ($790) to America and Sh69,000 to London.

The rates are lower than what existing carriers, including Kenya Airways as well as Middle East carriers Emirates and Qatar.

The Kenyan airspace has been attracting low-cost carriers for local, regional and international routes. Fastjet made its re-entry to the market, servicing the Kenya-Tanzania route engaging Kenya Airways in a vicious price battle.

The two airlines were put under watch following questionable adverts which indicated prices exclusive of taxes, making it seem cheaper than it actually was.

KQ, which has been grappling with losses, has had to contend with players coming into its home turf and the East African airspace including Etihad which in December launched direct flights between Dar and Abu Dhabi.

In February, it was reported that 36 passenger and cargo transport operators applied for licences to run local and international flights.

The applications filed with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) were renewals by existing operators and new applications. Zimbabwe-based Global Africa Aviation Ltd have sought permission to conduct cargo flights between Harare and Nairobi while Canada’s West Wind Aviation Ltd is seeking to offer passenger and cargo transport between Nairobi and east, west, central and southern Africa from Wilson Airport.

Other potential entrants include Poland’s Small Planet Airlines that plans to have weekly flights while Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation is seeking a licence for cargo services between Nairobi and Jeddah.