Thirty airlines given licences to operate locally

Fierce competition for air cargo and passenger business was set off last Friday when the government issued 30 operational licences to local and foreign operators.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director General Gilbert Kibe said Italy’s Neos S.P.A and Meridiana Fly S.P.A will join Poland’s Small Planet Airlines in conducting inclusive tour charters from Nairobi and Mombasa.

Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation was given a two-year licence to conduct international cargo flights from Jeddah to Nairobi.

Tanzania’s Auric Air, Tanzania Air and Air Excel were granted a two year permits each to ply non-scheduled international flights between the two neighbouring countries.

Kenya School of Flying, Mombasa Aviation and Ninety Nines were allowed to offer instructions within Kenyan airspace to aspiring pilots and airlines crew for the next three years.

Other local air companies were also licensed to carry out ambulance, freight, humanitarian and mission services between Kenya and its neighbours.

The move follows a government commitment to open up airspace for commercial business, which has been dominated by Kenya Airways, its subsidiary and a host of traditional airlines mainly plying Nairobi-Maasai Mara and Nairobi-Mombasa routes.

Earlier, the Kenya Hotelkeepers and Caterers had called for the lifting of a ban on direct charter flights to Mombasa saying it had adversely affected their businesses.

Global Africa Aviation (Put) Limited application to conduct international non-scheduled air services for cargo from Zimbabwe was rejected while Ocean Airlines plan to launch passengers’ flights within Africa from Nairobi was deferred.

The move portends a vicious price war over airfares on local routes, which has been in contention with a few airlines dominating certain routes.

Kenya’s numerous airstrips strewn across the country could also become busier as the electioneering period sets in leading to a rise in demand of air services for political aspirants seeking votes from various parts.

The move could also enhance regional travel buoyed by recently signed pacts opening up air traffic that saw landing fees waived allowing travellers from East Africa member countries, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan to travel from one country to another cheaply.