This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On Wednesday morning, July 15, 2020, Kenya's skies were filled with the sound of airplanes as domestic flights resumed after months of absence. The government had imposed movement restrictions to minimize the spread of coronavirus in the country.
At Kisumu International Airport, Kenya Airways, Fly 540, and Jambo jet were among the airlines that landed at the lakeside airport. In Mombasa, Jambo Jet was the first to land at Moi International Airport, followed by national carrier Kenya Airways.
The Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa, an Embraer type, carried 93 passengers, three short of its full capacity. Passengers paid Sh5,500 for the KQ Nairobi-Mombasa flight (one-way).
Among the passengers on the Kenya Airways flight was Allan Kilavuka, the airline's Chief Executive Officer. Tourism players in Mombasa welcomed the re-opening move, signaling hope to hotels and the region's overall economy, which has been starved for months of premium visitors.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had announced that international air travel would begin on August 1, offering another opportunity for airlines to rescue their businesses battered by the Corona Virus pandemic.
