Chinese flights to see trade, tourism soar
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. A report by the Parliamentary Public Investments Committee (PIC) shows that individuals acquired 67 per cent of the airport’s land before it was surveyed. FILE PHOTO | NMG
What you need to know:
- The airline has also added an Airbus 330-200 aircraft to its fleet in Kenya for the additional flight.
- There is already a booming business, leisure and tourism travel market between the two countries.
- However, this is expected to go a notch higher with the increased frequency.
Tourism and general trade between Kenya and China got a major boost after China Southern Airlines increased its Nairobi to Guangzhou flights from two to three.
The airline has also added an Airbus 330-200 aircraft to its fleet in Kenya for the additional flight.
There is already a booming business, leisure and tourism travel market between the two countries. However, this is expected to go a notch higher with the increased frequency.
Promote trade
“With this development, we are working together to promote the Kenya–China leisure, tour and travel business. For those wishing to travel to the Far East country during the period before the review, free accommodation will be provided once in Guangzhou, for passengers using China Southern Airlines and international code share flights if the flights’ connecting time is more than eight hours, but less than 48 hours,” said regional sales and marketing officer Charles Mobe.
The new schedule of flights, which are set to start on July 10, will be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, with a review scheduled for between then and October 23.
The new aircraft has a 218-passenger capacity - four first class, 24 business class and 190 economy class seats - and adopts the three-cabin layout.
According to Mr Mobe, the airline, which has been flying to Nairobi twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, “will now afford passengers an additional day”.
Good safety record
He said that with its fleet of more than 660 aircraft and an annual transportation record of more than 100 million passengers globally, the airline has can now boast of a good safety record in the oriental country.
“The airline also has a bigger international network and a convenient transfer network from the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport,” he added.
This latest move by the airline is set to ignite an even stiffer competition with the national carrier, Kenya Airways, which also plies the same route, but has in the recent days been facing headwinds, among other airlines plying the same route.
