Kenya steps up push for direct flights to US

Kenya has stepped up its push for direct flight to the US, emboldened by ongoing facility upgrades at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Transport secretary Michael Kamau is in the US to hold discussions with aviation authorities regarding steps that Kenya has put in place to lift the status of its airports.

Mr Kamau held a series of meetings with American officials, among them Christine Sharp, the US Federal Aviation administration manager in charge of Europe, Africa, and Middle East.

“We are certain that with the developments that we have carried out at the facility, the American government will upgrade JKIA to Category One status and enable direct flights from Kenya to the US,” Mr Kamau says in a Transport Ministry statement.

America-based airlines Delta Airways and Fedex have expressed interest to start operations to Kenya.

Among the requirements before direct flights start, the US aviation officials have asked Kenya to separate the arrival and departure passengers’ terminals, clear the flight path and fence off the airport.

READ: JKIA status upgrade to pave the way for direct US flights

Last week, the Kenya Airports Authority received security equipment donated by the US government – including 20 explosives trace detectors – that are expected to boost airport security.

At a meeting with Kenyan officials, Ms Sharp is said to have acknowledged the steps that Kenya has made towards upgrading its main airport and noted that it was now a question of when and not if, Kenya will achieve the status.

During his US visit, Mr Kamau also met Melvin Carraway, Deputy Administrator of the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Mr Carraway, who discussed the security situation in Kenya, is said to have acknowledged that the KAA had put in place many measures since the last TSA assessment of security at JKIA.

Insecurity has been one of the challenges that have seen Kenya denied Category 1 status by the US Federal Aviation Administration.