Kenya-based African Express Airways
became the first aircraft to land directly from Somalia at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport (JKIA) Wednesday in more than a decade following
the resumption of express flights.
The inaugural flight carrying 49 passengers comes a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a directive for the resumption of the services within a fortnight.
Newly
elected Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and Mr Kenyatta led
bilateral talks leading up to the directive during his first State visit
to Kenya last week.
Boost relations, trade
Transport
Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, who was at JKIA to receive the
carrier, said the historic move signalled a revitalisation of
cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, saying that it would
also enhance trade.
“For us in the transport sector,
we have always been working to boost Nairobi’s position as a regional
aviation hub,” said Mr Macharia.
KCAA Director General
Gilbert Kibe confirmed that the Notice to the Airmen (NOTAM) that
mandated all flights from Mogadishu to make a stopover in Wajir for
security screening before coming to JKIA, had been lifted to allow for
direct flights starting today.
Passengers will benefit the most due to the reduction of delays.
Although
Kenya does not import as much as it exports to Somalia, cargo handlers
and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are also expected to benefit
from the reintroduction of direct flights.
Nairobi had
long argued that the security stopover in Wajir acts as a buffer against
security threats posed by the Al Shabaab terror group that is based in
Somalia.
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