This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
On July 6, 2020, the Kenyan government announced the resumption of domestic and international flights as part of the country's re-phased re-opening of the economy.
President Uhuru Kenyatta made the announcement during a televised address to the nation, stating that local air travel would resume on July 15, with international flights set to follow on August 1.
According to the President, the return of air travel follows recent engagement between aviation stakeholders on safe return of air travel in the country.
Earlier last week, the President had hinted at the return to air travel in a webcasted meeting with regional leaders.
Further, Cabinet Secretaries to the Ministry of Transport and Tourism, James Macharia and Najib Balala, had toured the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa, expressing the facilities' readiness to flights.
Additional inspections to the airports were made at the end of last week, including a tour of the Eldoret Airport, which facilitates part of local travel.
International flights were the first to fold on March 25, before the subsequent ban on local air travel as the country instilled measures to combat the ensuing pandemic.
The lift of the ban to air travel is expected to mark a relief to local carriers who have been restricted to lifting cargo only following the ban on passenger flights.
Aviation players have been fast-tracking protocols to aid the return of air travel in compliance with the Ministry of Health guidelines, with flying under the new Covid-19 era expected to take in dramatic changes upon their return.
According to Kenya Airways, passengers on both international and domestic flights will see a one-hour increase in check-in times, taking the total wait time by local and international travellers to two and three hours respectively.
Additional time is being set to allow for new procedures on containing the virus spread, including temperature checks using thermal guns, social distancing, and frequent disinfection of baggage trays.
