This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On July 15, 2020, Transport CS James Macharia flagged off the first Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa at exactly 10:10 am, marking the resumption of domestic flights in Kenya, three months after they were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at the launch, CS Macharia warned, “We now look forward to the international flights but let’s make sure that these local flights are the benchmark of success. If we don’t do it correctly, the opportunity to fly internationally may be reversed,” he said.
As early as 5:00 am on Wednesday morning, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi was a beehive of activities as airlines gearing up for their debut flights following the suspension of flights due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the cold weather, people from all over strolled in ready to experience the skies again. KTN News reported that there were already long screening queues as airport authorities sought to take pre-cautionary measures to ensure the safety of both the travelers and the crew.
Passengers were required to wear masks, and the floors were marked with social distancing stickers to emphasize the need to observe distance while being served. Stickers reminding passengers to wear a mask at all times were also placed throughout the airport.
Those who were at the airport early Wednesday morning say that the check-in process is slower than usual, what with all the safety measures in place. Before boarding the plane, the airline crew reminded passengers to keep their masks on.
There will be no social distancing observed inside the planes, instead, passengers will seat next to each other but are required to have a mask on for the duration of the flight. Authorities said that the air conditioning inside the planes is effective enough to ensure air circulation.
Since the onset of Covid-19 and the stoppage of flights, the national carrier KQ is estimated to have incurred $100M in losses. It has only been operating cargo and repatriation flights for the last three months.
The resumption of flights will boost the tourism sector that has incurred huge losses as international flights resume on August 1.
