Kenya and Somalia have inked a bilateral air services agreement, which would provide a significant boost to Kenya Airways, which has been eager to establish flights to the nation.
Kipchumba Murkomen, Transport Cabinet Secretary, said the agreement ‘opens’ the two nations’ airspaces to direct flights.
“This agreement means that airlines will be designated to fly to Mogadishu and Nairobi…but this will depend on the designations that respective ministries across the country will make,” Murk omen explained.
Speaking during the signing of the deal, which came after months of discussions with Somali officials, the CS stated that it will not only open doors for the national carrier, but also for foreign airlines.
According to Murk omen, KQ will now be compelled to write to the government in order to get the appropriate air transport licenses.
According to the agreement, the two countries would help each other in terms of safety and security in their respective airspaces.
It is based on traffic rights, frequency and capacity, code-sharing, and the nations’ Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
“It requires us to operate in the same manner as other civilised nations under the International Civil Aviation Authority and the Chicago convention, which defines our relationship as countries in terms of airspace use,” he continued.
Kenya has signed multiple air services agreements that simplify how it recognises airlines visiting the country.
According to the agreement, designated airlines of each party may run seven weekly frequencies for passenger flights on specified routes, while designated airlines conducting cargo flights may operate an unlimited number of frequencies.
Technical collaboration necessitates increased cooperation between the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Somalia in capacity building, staff training, and experience exchange.
Miraa is one of Kenya’s principal exports to Somalia.
The clearance for KQ to fly to Mogadishu has been delayed for years.
Somalia originally criticized Nairobi’s tough aviation laws, which necessitated security checks in Wajir, in northern Kenya.
The carrier cancelled its intentions to begin flights to Hargeisa in Somaliland in May 2021 due to a lack of “clearance and approvals.”
“We do not currently have any flights in operation, contrary to information circulating on social media,” Kenya Airways stated in a statement.