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KQ receives nod to fly past New York in US
Thursday September 30 2021
Summary
- Parliament has backed a Cabinet decision to amend the air services agreement between Kenya and America that will see Kenya Airways expand its route network beyond New York.
- Kenya Airways is currently operating scheduled passenger air services between Nairobi and New York.
- Kenya signed the deal with the US on February 5, 2020 proposing to revise an earlier agreement inked in Washington DC on June 8, 2008.
Parliament has backed a Cabinet decision to amend the air services agreement between Kenya and America that will see Kenya Airways expand its route network beyond New York.
Kenya Airways is currently operating scheduled passenger air services between Nairobi and New York.
Kenya signed the deal with the US on February 5, 2020 proposing to revise an earlier agreement inked in Washington DC on June 8, 2008.
The pact will also allow national airlines such as Kenya Airways to access US routes and the American carriers to access the Kenyan market.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia told MPs that no airline from the US is flying into Kenya.
He said ratification of the agreement will allow the Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) of the US which had expressed interest in starting cargo operations and establish a base in Kenya.
FedEx is seeking to establish an operation base at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
“It is in the interest of the country to ratify the agreement to allow the airlines to expand their route network and engage in commercial arrangements as well as create job opportunities,” Mr Macharia said in a memo.
Transport ministry said ratification of the agreement will enhance trade and commerce, tourism, market access and connectivity, investment interests and mutual cooperation between the two States.
The National Assembly’s Transport committee, in a report…