This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
On November 27, 2019, Air India marked its return to Kenya with a flight from Mumbai to Nairobi, carrying 100 passengers and marking the end of a 10-year absence.
The airline's relaunch presents a significant opportunity for Kenya and India, which have shared trade and economic ties for many years.
According to the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), India is one of Kenya's top tourist source markets, with arrivals from India growing by 51.9% in 2018 to reach 125,032.
Speaking at the reception, KTB CEO Dr. Betty Radier emphasized the importance of Air India's return, stating that it would promote tourism, trade, and relationships between the two countries.
“India is one of Kenya's top tourist source markets. Arrivals from India in 2018 grew by 51.9% to reach 125,032. The return of Air India to Kenya adds to the existing connectivity by KQ and other airlines flying into Kenya and thus further enhancing accessibility to Kenya,” Dr. Radier said.
With 75 million passport holders, India presents a significant opportunity for Kenya to tap into, particularly during peak travel seasons.
