Airline now allowed to operate 3 times weekly to Africa’s biggest oil producing country

Nairobi, July 27th 2011 … The governments of Kenya and Angola have concluded and signed the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) paving way for Kenya Airways to expand its operations into the Southern Africa country.

As a result of the BASA, Kenya will now operate up to 3 weekly frequencies to Angola. For All-cargo operations, Kenya Airways will enter into co-operative arrangements with TAAG- Angolan airlines later in the year when KQ acquires its first freighter B747. The BASA also allows Kenya Airways to operate its route schedule from Kenya to any points in Angola with a provision of operating to destinations beyond using Angola as an intermediate point. This provides the pride of Africa with an opportunity to fly to South America via Luanda.

“The signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between the two governments is in line with Kenya Airways growth strategy as it helps us in ensuring expansion of the Luanda route which we only started operating one year ago; but more importantly it gives us the impetus to set up operations for flights to South America in the next few years,” noted Kenya Airways CEO and Managing Director, Dr. Titus Naikuni.

The BASA which has taken several years to conclude will also allow for enhanced code share arrangements with TAAG – Angolan airlines as well as other Kenya Airways’ partners with underlying traffic rights. Kenya Airways launched flights to Luanda Angola in August 2010 operating 2 weekly flights. TAAG Angola Airlines code shares on the route with KQ.

Angola is now the biggest oil producer in Africa and has positioned itself as a key economic and political player of Africa after 27 years of war that ravaged the expansive country. Due to high growth rate and oil driven economy, Angola is attracting huge investments in mining both infrastructure & people. Furthermore being China’s largest oil exporter, coupled with Kenya Airways good connection to China; the route is ideal to serve the ever growing traffic between these two countries.

Dr. Naikuni noted that lack of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Kenya and Angola had greatly hampered Kenya Airways efforts to start operations earlier than last year.

“This is an important development for Kenya Airways as it offers further consolidation of our expanding African network and brings us closer to achieving our ambition of being the carrier of choice for Africa. Our plans to fly to every Capital in Africa by 2013 and consolidate our route network on the continent are well on course. We sincerely appreciate the very positive input we continue to receive from our government in negotiating such agreements to enable us achieve our strategy,” added Dr. Naikuni.

Dr. Naikuni noted that Africa is acknowledged as the new frontier for growth with the continent recording increasing economic activity and trade. He added that Kenya Airways was seeking to diversify its route network throughout Africa in order to tap into the unique opportunities on this very diverse continent.