Kenyan National carrier Kenya Airways and Dubai's Emirates have joined forces in a groundbreaking interline partnership, allowing travellers from both airlines to explore new destinations within a single itinerary.
This collaboration not only offers enhanced travel options but also provides a seamless baggage check-in experience for passengers. The partnership further solidifies Emirates' presence in Africa, increasing its footprint to an impressive 148 points across the continent.
Under this agreement, Emirates customers gain access to an extensive network of 28 destinations on Kenya Airways.
By utilizing Nairobi as a gateway, passengers can now venture to exciting locations such as Nampula, Bangui, Bujumbara, Kigali, Dzaoudzi, Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Zanzibar, and various other regional points in Africa.
Furthermore, through a bilateral interline arrangement, Emirates travellers can book a single ticket itinerary to or from Mombasa, a popular leisure destination in Kenya.
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Similarly, Kenya Airways passengers flying from Nairobi and Mombasa can now connect seamlessly through Dubai to 23 destinations across West and South Asia, the Far East, the Indian Ocean, and the Middle East.
This opens up opportunities to explore vibrant cities like Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, Ahmedabad, Beirut, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Seoul, among others.
Emirates' Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, expressed his satisfaction with this new partnership, stating, "We are pleased to ink our first partnership with Kenya's flag carrier. Kenya is a strategic gateway in our Africa network, and this new interline agreement will enhance connectivity for Emirates' customers and provide them more travel choices across the continent. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Kenya Airways, offering greater network opportunities and improving connections for both of our customers."
Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer of Kenya Airways, emphasized the significance of this partnership in boosting connectivity between Africa and the Middle East. He remarked, "This partnership will provide the ideal gateway for our customers as we seek to increase our connectivity between Africa and the Middle East through Emirates' hub in Dubai. Partnerships like these are key in aviation as they take advantage of mutual scale and efficiencies to provide customers with more seamless travel options."
Tickets for these expanded travel options are now available for purchase on emirates.com, various online travel agents (OTAs), and major travel agencies.
Emirates, which initiated operations in Kenya in 1995, has steadily grown its presence over the years. Currently, the airline operates 14 weekly flights between Nairobi and Dubai, having served over 5 million passengers on this route.
Notably, Emirates stands out as the sole airline offering private, enclosed First Class cabins, guaranteeing a superior experience for its premium customers throughout their journey.
Kenya Airways has also been making strides, with its recent launch of direct flights between Mombasa and Dubai, offering customers four weekly flights.
This new service from Moi International Airport in Mombasa signifies the carrier's second hub connecting passengers directly to the UAE, in addition to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Kenya Airways currently operates ten weekly flights to Dubai from Nairobi, utilizing a combination of the B737-800 and the Dreamliner B787-800 aircraft.
The partnership between Emirates and Kenya Airways signifies a significant milestone in the realm of air travel, creating new avenues for exploration and connectivity between Africa and the Middle East.
With increased travel options and seamless itineraries, passengers can now embark on remarkable journeys, discovering the beauty and diversity of these two vibrant regions.