Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to resume direct flights from Nairobi to Mogadishu, Somalia from February, 24, 2024.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kenya Airways chief commercial and customer officer Julius Thairu said the move aligns with the increasing business and the growing number of air travel between Kenya and Somalia.
“We are eager about the potential of re-establishing the link between Mogadishu and Nairobi through KQ. Kenya Airways is committed to providing high-quality service for our customers, as we work together to foster trade and investment for sustained growth.”
The resumption of flights will offer travelers a convenience of three flights per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. This schedule provides passengers punctual and reliable air travel option between the two cities. The move minimizes disruptions caused by connecting flights.
For Wednesday and Saturday flights, KQ said it would leave Nairobi at 14:00 and arrive in Mogadishu at 15:45, with flight number KQ362, while flight number KQ363 will leave Mogadishu at 16:35 and arrive in Nairobi 18:20.
The resumption of Mogadishu flights is part of Kenya Airways network expansion strategy and commitment aimed at enhancing connectivity across the African continent to contribute to long-term economic progress.
The announcement comes a few months after Kenya and Somalia signed a bilateral air services agreement handing a major boost to Kenya Airways that has been raring to launch flights to the country.
This comes after Somalia was recently admitted into the East African Community becoming the eighth member state in the bloc. Kenya Airways temporarily suspended flights to the country in August 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.