New dawn as maiden KQ flight lands in New York

IN NEW YORK

After covering 13,000km, Kenya Airways’ inaugural 15-hour non-stop flight to the US touched down at the John F Kennedy International Airport at exactly 2.07pm Kenyan time, signalling the start of direct commercial connection with the Big Apple.

Previously, Kenyan travellers and traders were forced to connect through other airports since Jomo Kenyatta Internation Airport (JKIA) was not categorised as Category 1.

There was a huge applause from passengers delighted to have been part of the historic moment.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, piloted by Captain Ndichu Kinuthia, left Nairobi on Sunday at 10.45pm after it was flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta, shortly after the passengers boarded from gate 19.

MLESTONE

On board the flight, popularly known as KQ, were Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma and US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec.

“We are making history,” said elated KQ chief executive Sebastian Mikosz, who had been brought to Nairobi to help turn around the airline. We are indeed happy to have been part of this journey, which is a milestone for Africa.”

KQ 2, as the flight was designated, was given a water cannon salute as it taxied on the John F Kennedy runway for the first time.

For the last 41 years, KQ has expanded its reach to include 53 destinations in 41 countries. To achieve category 1 status, JKIA had to undergo refurbishment with investments of $12.9 million in new security equipment as well as a new terminal that cost $89.4 million.

NEW DAWN

Experts say that the New York route would herald a new dawn for the airline.

Earlier on, Mr Godec had told the Nation that the connection would offer businessmen, company executives, tourists and scholars a chance to connect with Kenya, easily.

“With a direct flight, flowers harvested on Monday can be on tables in New York on Wednesday,” says Dick Murianki, the KQ cargo general-manager.

Of late, various US giants have made Nairobi their regional business hub. These are General Electric, IBM, Oracle, Google and Bechtel, among others. Recent research shows that the number of US multinationals in Nairobi has been growing.

In recent years, both inbound and outbound trade between the two countries has increased with exports from Kenya to the US growing to $470 million in 2017 from $431 in 2016, according to latest data from American Chamber of Commerce.

LARGEST ECONOMY

For Kieni MP Kanini Kega, this flight gives Kenyans an opportunity to connect with the largest economy in the world.

“We have worked hard to get here and should work harder to exploit the benefits of this connection,” he says.

By offering a direct flight, Kenya will reap from connections from other African countries, which will find the Nairobi-New York route more convenient.

“This is very good for us. We no longer have to fly to Dubai or Europe to connect to the US,” says Lucy Muthoni a frequent passenger.

Before the aircraft landed, Dr Juma went round the cabin, engaging travellers in tête-à-tête. “Is everybody ok? Did you enjoy the flight?” she asked.

BENEFIT TOURISM

Writing in the current issue of KQs in-flight Msafiri magazine, President Kenyatta described the direct flight as a “magnificent way for our friends and neighbours to connect and benefit from tourism, business and trade.

Kenya's celebrated culinary artist Kiran Jethwa had been picked to prepare the flight menu while Jeff Koinange made the announcements on board.

A Kenyan flag earlier handed over by President Kenyatta was given to US officials, a sign that KQ finally made it to one of the busiest airports in the world — and to the US soil.