Etihad Airways’ inaugural passenger
flight to Kenya has touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
in Nairobi.
The new daily, two-class A320 service is the
airline’s first passenger service to East Africa and a critically important
step in expanding its presence in Africa.
The airline will also reach into West Africa
with the introduction of flights to Nigeria in July, 2012. Etihad Airways
commenced operations to the Seychelles in November, 2011, and Libya in January
of this year, building on existing services to Egypt, South Africa, Morocco and
Sudan.
An Etihad Airways delegation of senior
executives, led by Chief Commercial Officer Peter Baumgartner, was on the
inaugural Nairobi flight.
Executives from the airline will meet government
officials and local tourism representatives during the visit to Kenya. The
delegation will also host an evening reception to celebrate Etihad Airways’ new
flights.
Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive
Officer James Hogan said: “We are delighted to introduce Etihad Airways to East
Africa. This year will see considerable growth for us within Africa as a whole,
as we observe strong and emerging markets across the continent.
“In particular, this new route services the
considerable and growing flow of people and capital between Kenya and North
Asia, with major Chinese investment in Africa generating passenger demand in
both directions.
“We expect to see strong loads to China,
including our new destinations – Chengdu and Shanghai – and of course Beijing,
though the schedule allows sub-four hour connectivity to key destinations
across North Asia, South East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia.”
The A320 aircraft has 16 Pearl Business class
and 120 Coral Economy class seats.
Etihad
Airways began dedicated cargo services to Nairobi in March 2009 and will
continue to operate five freight-only flights per week. The combined capacity
of passenger and cargo aircraft will allow the airline to transport 340 tonnes
of cargo each week.