KENYA’S CAA BLAMED FOR DELAY IN RWANDAIR FLIGHTS TO NAIROBI
(Posted 09th January 2015)
There appears to be growing anger directed against the Kenyan aviation regulators, not just from Tanzania where Fastjet continues to twiddle their thumbs. Fastjet, for several months now, is waiting to have their application to fly from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi approved but the decision is kept ‘under review’ inspite of being designated by the Tanzanian regulators to operate such flights.
Anger now is seething too in Uganda and Rwanda, when leaked information pointed fingers squarely at the Kenyans for not approving slots for the planned fifth freedom flights by RwandAir between Entebbe and Nairobi.
‘These people are playing with fire now. It took a whole head of state directive on 11th December to expose and break down their obstinate resistance to grant traffic rights to RwandAir for flights from Entebbe to Nairobi and on to Juba. It is not just the regulators, they are in league with some of the airlines to keep competition off certain routes. Now they delay again hoping that in the meantime others of their own airlines can commence flights to the same destinations so that economic success becomes an endangered species. How else does one explain the hasty start of an airline between Nairobi and Entebbe this week. They have not even began to market their flights, imagine, so forgive me if I conclude they work hand in glove to stop any non 5Y [5Y is the
registration for Kenyan planes and generally understood to mean Kenya] operators from gaining a stronghold’ let a regular aviation source fly when being contacted about the likely causes for the delayed start of RwandAir.
A source in Nairobi, notably more reluctant to comment, in the end said: ‘So there may be a small delay about the landing and departure times. This is normal, not out of bad intention. JKIA is a busy airport and besides we should not have flights to the same place by different airlines just minutes apart. Existing schedules must be respected and not undermined. Give it a bit of time and it will be resolved’ without being drawn into the launch of flights by a Kenyan airline to Entebbe. Also was no response received about the ongoing delays why Fastjet was still not getting approval to launch flights from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi while at the same time a Kenyan airline was trying to add more frequencies on that route beyond what the current BASA permitted.
‘When RwandAir finally launches flights to Nairobi we shall support them. Those we think responsible for these childish delays will see us. The rise in fares when Air Uganda stopped flying was a very bad thing to do to Ugandans and when there is a choice, there will be a reaction. After all, they should know all about the phrase that choices have consequences, no? About the new airline, who are they anyway, there is nothing I have seen other than read in your blog they are coming. I have seen no sales activity which really does not impress me about their business strategy’ added a Kampala based travel agent to the conversation.
No doubt will the coming weeks determine the winners and losers in this latest of many battles fought over the Entebbe to Nairobi route market share, but let us not forget that it was the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority in the first place which, when pulling the AOC’s of Ugandan registered carriers for international flights, caused all these upheavals and prompted the rise in fares and lack of seats.
For breaking and regular aviation news from Eastern Africa, watch this space.
4 Responses
Appalling behaviour by the Kenyan CAA
Stop blaming the Kenyans and who cares about three heads of States. Its is very well stated in the last paragraph:
Let us not forget that it was the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority in the first place which, when pulling the AOC’s of Ugandan registered carriers for international flights, caused all these upheavals and prompted the rise in fares and lack of seats.
To the contrary, after the stunts the Kenyan regulators keep pulling vis a vis TZ airlines traffic rights (Fastjet) and now Rwandair they must be blamed. That said, KQ does have 5th freedom rights between Bujumbura and Kigali and enjoyed that right for quite some time. The lack of intention to reciprocate exposes a negative mindset and therefore do the Kenyan regulators stand isolated and exposed for what they are, protectionists.
I also think it is fair for to provide 5th Freedom rights unilaterally. I think this issue would be easily resolved if the right was also provided to Kenya Airways for flights between Bujumbura and Kigali; Entebbe and Kigali.