An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner. AFP Air India is set to resume direct flights between Mumbai and Nairobi on November 27 following a two-month delay.
The direct flights were to begin on September 27 but were delayed to this month due to operational hitches.
“The planning for flights usually takes time and that is why there were operational delays. But all is now set for the flights this month with air tickets currently being sold…The maiden flight is scheduled to depart Mumbai for Nairobi at 6.25 am (local time),” said Indian’s High Commission to Kenya in a statement.
India’s national carrier is scheduled to fly four times a week between Nairobi and Mumbai and will cut travel time from between 10 and 11 hours to six hours. This will save travellers hours spent on flights that usually involve long layovers in Dubai, Middle East.
The commission notes that the flights are expected to shore up trade between India and Kenya as well as other East African Community countries.
Trade between India and Kenya is estimated at $2 billion annually.
According to 2018 data from India’s department of commerce, Kenya exports to India grew from $7.2 million to $137 million in 2017.
The data also indicates that India imports to Kenya went up from $1.974 billion in 2017 to $2.071 billion last year.
Air India used to operate directly between India and Kenya but later abandoned its operations.
Some of the key economic sectors that are expected to greatly benefit from the Mumbai-Nairobi direct flights include tourism, agriculture, health and pharmaceuticals as well as education.
“This week, we had a delegation of 40 Indian investors who met various Kenyan government authorities with a possibility of setting up or expanding their businesses in Kenya. It is expected that these flights will bring more people to Nairobi,” adds the statement.In July this year, Indian High Commissioner to Kenya, Rahul Chhabra first disclosed that the flights would resume, noting that this was expected to shore up trade and connectivity between the two countries.“I am excited to announce that Air India is launching direct flights between Mumbai and Nairobi on September 27 that also coincides with World Tourism Day. This will improve trade between Kenya and India and is a testimony that India attaches great significance to the people of Kenya,” added Mr Chhabra then in Eldoret.Data released in January by Tourism CS Najib Balala showed that India ranks among the top five […]
