Economy

Kenya's 'look East' policy lifts air travel

plane

A Kenya Airways plane at the JKIA, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Kenya has recorded increased aviation traffic to the Middle East and Asia, a report by travel commerce platform Travelport shows.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, and Spain have recorded the highest growth in flight bookings from Kenyan travellers in the last 12 months, states the report

Between August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018, the bookings made in Kenya to the UAE surged by 675, representing an overall growth of two per cent.

On the other hand, bookings to Pakistan — a key market of Kenya's tea — rose by 631, up 47 per cent over the 12-month period while those destined for Spain increased by 564, up 26 per cent.

Travelport managing director for Africa Guido Verweij said bookings from Kenya to UAE rose mainly because Dubai opened its Visa processing centre in Nairobi.

“We believe bookings to the UAE rose primarily due to the recently established Dubai Visa Processing Centre in Nairobi to meet the increasing number of applicants.

“The increase in bookings to Pakistan may have been linked to a spike in people traveling home from Eid Al Adha, which fell in September last year while rise in bookings to Spain is likely due to growing demand for cruises,” he said.