Kenya eyes open skies in deal with eight countries Tanzania inclusive

Kenya’s Ministry of Transport has tabled bilateral air service agreements between Kenya and eight countries that will see national career Kenya Airways expand its routes network to new markets.

The Transport Ministry said Kenya had air agreements with Tanzania, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Chile, Belize, Suriname, Austria and Barbados.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia told Parliament the bilateral air services agreements will enable airlines to expand their existing route networks by directly operating scheduled services to other markets.

“Bilateral air services agreements between Kenya and the various countries are established to enable Kenyan air operators such as Kenya Airways to provide scheduled air services and expand their existing route networks,” Macharia said in a report to Parliament.

“In addition, the agreements allow foreign careers to access the Kenyan market.”

He said where airlines are unable to offer services, the agreement allows them to enter into commercial arrangements such as codeshare agreements, which allow airlines to grow the demand in other markets by putting their code on other carriers thereby offering seamless connectivity to the travelling public.

Source: Business Daily