This archive report was first published on 30 December 2021.
UAE Extends Ban on Air Travellers from Kenya ¶
Friday, December 31, 2021
Kenya Airways planes at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on July 31, 2020. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG
Kenya Airways has been severely impacted by the UAE's ban on air travellers from Kenya, which was extended indefinitely on December 24, 2021.
Emirates Airlines announced the extension of the ban, which was initially set to end on Christmas Eve, until further notice. The move is part of the UAE's efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the wake of the new Omicron variant.
According to Emirates Airlines, flights to and from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda are suspended until further notice. Passengers who have been in or transited through these countries in the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Dubai.
The UAE's ban on air travellers from Kenya has dealt a significant blow to the national carrier, Kenya Airways, which had seen an increase in bookings on this route occasioned by the ongoing Dubai Expo 2020 exhibition.
Kenya Airways suspended passenger flights to Dubai on Tuesday last week in line with the directive. The national carrier has promised to refund passengers who had booked tickets for travel within the suspension period and will allow them to rebook when flights resume.
