Kenya Airways (KQ) has recommenced its direct daily flights to New York, capitalizing on the anticipated surge in air travel demand during the summer season. The national airline initially operated five daily flights on the US route starting in January, but at that time, passenger demand was relatively low due to America’s winter season.
“We have increased our frequencies to daily on the New York route because of high demand from passengers as we approach the summer season,” said the airline.
Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced an increase in flight frequencies to the US due to strong advance bookings from passengers seeking summer travel options.
This decision comes at a time when Ethiopian Airlines, the largest carrier in Africa, has expanded its US flights by introducing a new route to Atlanta and reintroducing the New York route via Abidjan. This intensifies the competition on this particular route.
Ethiopian Airlines recently started offering four weekly flights to Atlanta, allowing passengers to bypass JFK International Airport in New York and fly directly to Atlanta. Previously, Ethiopian Airlines served New York through Abidjan starting in June 2019, but the route was temporarily suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It later resumed service to New York via Lomé in October 2020.
In addition to New York, Ethiopian Airlines already operates flights to Newark, Chicago, Washington DC, and provides cargo service to Miami, making Atlanta its sixth destination in the United States.
Kenya Airways has faced financial challenges and has relied on government bailouts to stay operational. However, the government recently announced its intention to discontinue funding the national carrier. If implemented, this plan could save taxpayers billions of shillings, as the airline has not returned a profit since 2012.
