This archive report was first published on 30 September 2021.
On September 30, 2021, the Kenyan Parliament ratified a Cabinet decision to amend the air services agreement between Kenya and the US, paving the way for Kenya Airways to expand its route network beyond New York.
Kenya Airways currently operates scheduled passenger air services between Nairobi and New York, but the revised agreement will allow the airline to access more US routes and American carriers to access the Kenyan market.
The agreement, signed on February 5, 2020, proposes to revise an earlier deal inked in Washington DC on June 8, 2008.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia told MPs that no US airline is currently flying into Kenya, but the ratification of the agreement will allow the Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) to establish a base in Kenya and start cargo operations.
According to Macharia, ratification of the agreement will enhance trade and commerce, tourism, market access, and connectivity between the two countries.
Transport ministry officials said the agreement will have a multiplier effect on the Kenyan economy, opening up immense opportunities for Kenyans.
