Two Kenyan airlines resume Juba flights Thursday morning
What you need to know:
- Kenya Airways said its daily flights on the route resume on Thursday morning and added that it is prepared for the backlog of passengers.
- A statement from Kenya Airways said its two daily flights to the South Sudanese capital would start with a departure at 7.15am and another at 1.20pm from Thursday onwards.
- For Astral, the flights resumed on Wednesday but the airline said it faces a large amount of cargo to clear.
Two Kenyan airlines plying the Nairobi-Juba route have announced they will resume flights to the South Sudanese capital following a ceasefire announced by that country's government.
On Wednesday, National carrier Kenya Airways and charter airline Astral Aviation said they would resume flights after the South Sudan government announced a truce on Monday night.
Kenya Airways said its daily flights on the route resume on Thursday morning and added that it is prepared for the backlog of passengers.
A statement from Kenya Airways said its two daily flights to the South Sudanese capital would start with a departure at 7.15am and another at 1.20pm from Thursday onwards.
“Kenya Airways will avail (sic) a larger capacity aircraft, B737-800, to accommodate more guests and clear the backlog that has been occasioned by the airline suspending flights from Sunday, July 10, following an eruption of unrest in the country,” KQ said.
“To clear the backlog by Friday, July 15, the airline will give priority to guests based on their original return dates. Kenya Airways regrets any inconvenience caused during the suspension of flights and wishes to thank its guests for continued support."
CARGO PILE-UP
For Astral, the flights resumed on Wednesday but the airline said it faces a large amount of cargo to clear.
Astral CEO Sanjeev Gadhia said the closure of the airport had created a backlog of 100 tonnes of cargo by Wednesday.
The firm normally ferries 50 tonnes of cargo a week.
The airline, which specialises in freight and chartered services, suspended operations on the route on July 9 to protect staff from the violence in Juba.
Mr Gadhia said his firm would also operate charter flights for passenger evacuations from Juba to Nairobi on a daily basis and will resume its cargo flights on July 15.
South Sudan experienced a week-long spate of violence after security teams for President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar attacked each other.
The incidents were only calmed on Monday followed pressure from regional leaders.
