Cofek in court to stop KQ’s Nigeria, Guinea operations

The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) has filed an application in court seeking to compel Kenya Airways to cancel flights to all West Africa destinations hit by the Ebola outbreak.

The consumers’ lobby says the national carrier is putting commercial interests ahead of public health concerns, arguing that other carriers like Emirates and British Airways have suspended flights to West Africa.

It wants KQ to suspend operations in Nigeria, Ghana and Guinea. The national carrier announced it has suspended flights to Liberia’s capital Monrovia and Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown where it flies a total of seven times in a week.

“Since KQ has continued to fly to the high risk destination, Cofek demanded it either suspends its flights to the said destinations or gives an undertaking of full responsibility should the Ebola virus be spread to Kenya as a result of its business,” Henry Kurauka, the lobby’s lawyer, told the court Monday.

The court certified the matter as urgent and scheduled hearing for Wednesday. Cofek wants the High Court to determine whether the national carrier and other airlines should be left to decide on the flights despite the health risk. 

The Attorney General and Cabinet secretaries for Transport, Health and Interior have also been enjoined in the suit.

Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and Guinea have been hit hard by the world’s biggest Ebola outbreak that has left a death toll of more than 1, 100 people.

Kenya Airways will from Tuesday midnight stop flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone, but maintain flying to Nigeria and 10 West Africa destinations in a region that accounts for nearly a quarter of annual revenue, which stood at Sh106 billion in the year to March.

READ: West Africa flight ban leaves Kenya Airways in a fix

The airline said all passengers booked on the suspended flights will get a full refund. Korean Airlines suspended its flights to Nairobi last week citing the risk of Ebola.

The Health ministry earlier said four suspected cases of Ebola in Kenya had tested negative for the virus.

On Monday, High Court judge Weldon Korir declined to grant the consumer federation’s plea to have flights to the West African countries cancelled until the case is heard and determined.

This came as the KQ share hit nearly a year low after closing trading at Sh9.80 compared to Friday’s close of Sh10.30.

KQ flies 44 times a week to 10 West African cities, comprising nearly a third of the airline’s 36 destinations on the continent.

Having resisted cancelling flights even after the exit of other major airlines, KQ may have been looking at increased bookings as travellers going in and out of the Ebola-struck region saw their options of air travel become limited.

The carrier has identified African destinations as key in its long-term plan to grow its number of destinations to 115, and has plans to extend the airline’s footprint to every African capital by 2016.

Beyond the losses for KQ, however, a suspension of flights is also likely to be felt in the wider economy as it will affect trade between Kenya and West African economies.

KQ has indicated it may review other West African routes going forward.