Aerial view of Wilson Airport in Nairobi on August 9, 2016. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG
Domestic carriers, grounded over the past three months by the
coronavirus, will not be compelled to keep some seats empty when they
resume passenger flights, the sector regulator has said.
Kenya
Civil Aviation Authority director-general Gilbert Kibe said flying with
the middle row seats empty will be unsustainable as some airlines will
be forced to increase ticket prices, locking out hundreds of passengers.
Fresh
Ministry of Trade rules meant to guide businesses during the easing of
Covid-19 restrictions demand that airlines limit passenger numbers to
nearly half of their licensed capacity in line with public health
regulations.
“I can say that airlines in Kenya will be
allowed to operate in such a way that they will be able to remain
sustainable. Keeping seats in the middle row empty is unsustainable,” Mr
Kibe told the Business Daily on Friday.
He
said airlines plan to combat spread of the virus by pushing for other
measures such as use of face masks, pre-flight screening and sanitising
cabins to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
The aircraft will also have seats reserved to deal with any suspected cases of the coronavirus aboard.
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