Air : finally a direct flight between East Africa and the United States

President Uhuru Kenyatta inaugurated the Nairobi-New York airline on Sunday, October 28. This is the first flight in history between East Africa and the United States. A mutually beneficial step forward!

According to close sources, it is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner owned by Kenya Airways. With more than 230 passengers on board, the aircraft left the Kenyan capital for New York.

The flight should last 15 hours non-stop and should land today very early in the morning. With a nearly 5-hour lead over competitors, the Nairobi-New York line is expected to help positively impact trade and tourism in both countries.

« This direct flight will boost trade, reduce delivery time, generate income and jobs in both countries, » says Bob Godec, U.S. ambassador to Kenya. And the American diplomat seems to know what he’s saying. Americans have become the first tourists in the country thanks in particular to the presence of some forty American multinationals.

Kenya Airways Limited was founded in 1977, but has the slogan « The pride of Africa ». A pride that she would like to confirm by inaugurating the very first direct line between East Africa and the world’s leading power.

It remains to be seen whether Kenya Airways will meet many challenges in a context where it appears to be affected by several factors, including the high debt of $267 million.