KENYA’S ELECTION TIME TABLE CAUSES NEXT AVIATION AUDIT TO BE POSTPONED
(Posted 24th May 2017)
Regular aviation sources based in Nairobi have suggested that the US’ Transportation Security Administration has apparently decided to push their audit of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to beyond the Kenyan elections, which are slated for 08th of August this year.
Initially scheduled for June this year will the campaign activity no doubt impact on the availability of key individuals in Kenya and while no new date has been set as yet for the required audit – which outcome will determine if Kenya Airways can get landing rights for US airports – is there some indication that a new audit date will be scheduled soon early in Q4 of this year.
This dashes hopes for an early commencement of flights by Kenya Airways to the US which over enthusiastic individuals projected prematurely to take place before the end of the year. However, Kenya Airways’ aircraft availability is also an issue as all of their Boeing B787’s are presently committed around the clock to serve other key destinations in Africa, Europe, the Gulf, India and Asia with two of these birds on a three year lease with Oman Air since March 2016.
It is therefore anticipated that direct flights between the US and Kenya will initially be operated by KQ’s SkyTeam partner Delta under a codeshare arrangement.
