This refers to a set of commercial aviation rights granting a country's airline the privilege to land in another country, uplifting passengers to another destination with the flight originating or ending in the airline's own country.This announcement was made on the back of the
airlines recent commencement of flights to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.This new development coupled with the introduction of the new route, the 55th of the airline's global destinations, will see Kenya Airways strengthen its presence in West Africa.Kenya Airways will therefore offer flights between Ouagadougou and Cotonou in neighboring Benin twice a week on Monday's and Fridays.Kenya Airways' Chief Executive officer noted,This is an important development for Kenya Airways as it offers further consolidation of our expanding African network and brings us closer to achieving our ambition of being the carrier of choice for Africa. Our plans to fly to every Capital in Africa by 2013 and consolidate our route network on the continent are thus well on course.
Speaking during the event to officially inaugurate the Ouagadougou flights, Minister for Transport Hon. Amos Kimunya commended Kenya Airways for the launch of the new route, noting that transport plays a major role in economic development.The launch of this new route is laudable because it complements the government's efforts to grow bilateral trade and economic links with countries in West Africa. Kenya's exports to West Africa are still quite low although we believe that there is vast potential for economic cooperation,said Kimunya.
The Minster thanked the Governments of Burkina Faso and Benin for the 5th Freedom Rights to Kenya Airways and urged Kenyan businessmen to take up the opportunity to identify new markets and expand their export regimes.Dr. Naikuni noted that Africa is acknowledged as the new frontier for growth with the continent recording increasing economic activity and trade. He added that Kenya Airways was seeking to diversify its route network throughout Africa in order to tap into the unique opportunities on this very diverse continent.Ouagadougou is the 2nd destination that Kenya Airways has launched this year following the commencement of flights to Ndjamena in Chad last month. The airline plans to commence service to a further 6 destinations within Africa and the Middle East in the course of this financial year.
