National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) will now fly directly to the US, presenting new opportunities for Kenyans in travel, trade, and commerce.
This is after the Kenya Airports Authority received the Last Point of Departure (LPD) clearance for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from the American government.
PRESS RELEASE: Following the announcement between President @UKenyatta and President @realDonaldTrump, JKIA has now achieved Last Point of Departure (LPD) status. This allows JKIA to facilitate direct flights between Kenya and the US. 1/3
— Kenya Airports (@KenyaAirports) August 29, 2018
The maiden flight is set to take off on October 28, 2018.
“This is a major achievement for Kenya as JKIA becomes one of the elite African airports to be certified as the Last Point of Departure to the United States. JKIA is now poised to become the premier hub in Africa,” said Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director, Jonny Andersen.
In 2017, KQ was granted permission by the Department of Transportation to fly into the United States for both cargo and passenger flights.
“Scheduled and charter foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail from any point or points behind Kenya, via any point or points in Kenya and any intermediate points, to any points or points in the United States and beyond,” said Brian Hedberg, Director Office of International Aviation.
“This approval by the DOT has been achieved thanks to the hard work of great individuals within all the departments of KQ. I am confident that our team will complete the next milestones with the same success and allow us to operate non-stop flights to the US in 2018,” said Kenya Airways Commercial Director Vincent Coste.
The same year in February, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Jomo Kenyatta International Airport a Category One status.
With Category 1, there will be a faster movement of goods and people b
