Expensive flights: KQ exit from Congo airspace poses tension over airfare hikes

• Kenya Airways staff who were arrested by the Congolese military in Kinshasa are yet to be released
• The national carrier withdrew its flight operations to Kinshasa until the matter is resolved, citing a lack of personnel
• KQ’s exit from the Congo route resulted in a shortage of air seats, plunging the airport in the country into a crisis

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Travellers using the Congo route are stranded following the Kenya Airways decision to suspend its flights to Kinshasa.

KQ took the decision after two of its staff were arrested and detained by the Congolese Military Intelligence Unit.

How many Airlines serve Kinshasa?

The move saw the number of airlines operating in the Congo airspace reduced to two – Ethiopian and Uganda Airlines – two years after RwandAir was banned.

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According to the East African, KQ’s exit from the Congolese airspace could pose an air transport crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The number of passenger seats available per week dropped by 1,813 following the KQ exit.

Will there be hike in airfare after KQ exits Congo?

This means daily 259 air seats provided by Kenya Airways were cut from the airspace, leading the passengers to scramble for the reduced supply.

The reduced air seats could lead to an increase in airfares as passenger demand grows.

Kenya Airways chief executive officer (CEO) Allan Kilavuka said the flights will only resume after the matter is resolved, citing lack of personnel.

“The continued detention of our employees has made it difficult for us to supervise our operations in Kinshasa, which include customer service, ground handling, cargo activities, and generally ensuring safe, secure, and efficient operations. We also ask that our staff be treated humanely and respectfully during this unlawful detention,” said Kilavuka in a statement released on April 29, 2024.

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Why KQ staff were arrested

The two staff were arrested on Friday, April 19, by the military in Kinshasa over allegations of missing documentation on valuable cargo

Kilavuka said the Kenyan embassy officials and a few KQ staff were allowed to visit the staffers in detention, but only for a few minutes.

The airline insisted that the cargo in question was not on the air side for transportation, adding that it was still in the baggage section undergoing clearance.

Source: TUKO.co.ke