National carrier Kenya Airways has announced temporary suspension of all international flights effective Wednesday midnight until further notice.
Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka says this is in line with the Government’s directive stopping all outbound and inbound flights.
” As we mentioned in our previous communication, we have been forced to reduce our network by over 70% and it had become increasingly difficult to continue offering international passenger services. Today the Government of Kenya has issued a directive that requires all incoming and outgoing international passenger traffic to and from Kenya to cease from midnight on 25th March 2020. To comply with this directive, we have therefore temporarily suspended all international services effective midnight 25th March 2020, until further notice.” He said.
Kilavuva however says the airline will continue operating cargo flights to ensure availability of emergency services and supplies.
Get breaking news on your Mobile as-it-happens. SMS ‘NEWS’ to 20153
The airline will nonetheless continue operating domestic flight to Kisumu and Mombasa.
” Throughout this crisis, we have received incredible support from our staff, customers and well-wishers and we would like to thank you all for this acknowledgement of the dedication and hard work from all of the Kenya Airways family. We also recognise that these sudden changes have greatly inconvenienced many of our customers and we would like to apologise sincerely for this but hope that we will come back stronger than ever in due course.” He added.
KQ says customers affected by the suspension will be able to change their bookings for later travel or exchange their bookings for vouchers for future travel within a year.