Kenya Airways Halts Mogadishu Routes Amid Rising Competition from Somali Carriers
Mogadishu (AX) — Kenya Airways is poised to hit the brakes on all its flights ferrying passengers to Mogadishu, Somalia, starting on October 14, 2024. The decision, attributed to some gnarly operational hiccups, was splashed across a letter by the airline’s honcho, Allan Kilavuka. This communiqué, dated October 9, 2024, was penned to Mohamed Daghar, the Principal Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Roads and Transport.
“We’ve run into some operational snags,” explained Kilavuka in the letter, “so we’ve chosen to halt our passenger flights to Mogadishu from mid-October next year.” This decision followed a painstaking review of the business climate by the airline’s management and board, aimed at safeguarding the airline’s interests amid current turbulence.
Kilavuka further elucidated, “We’re seeking your understanding of this unexpected wrinkle, which might throw a wrench in the positive strides we’ve made so far.”
Kenya Airways finds itself wrestling with intense headwinds from Somali-run competitors like Freedom Airline Express and Premier Airlines. These agile carriers present enticing options like one-way tickets and lenient policies on “no-show” fees. Sporting a notable presence on the route with 25 flights a week, they’ve captured the hearts of Somali travelers by catering to their specific wants.
Some flyers, fed up with Kenya Airways’ rigid booking rules, especially for Somali passport holders and the hassle of purchasing tickets at the airport, have been gravitating towards Somali operators. This inflexibility tipped the balance toward Somali airlines, munching away Kenya Airways’ share of passengers on the Nairobi-Mogadishu trajectory.
An insider at Somalia’s aviation authority spilled the beans on how the turf battle was not a surprise. Remonstrations by Somali officials with Kenyan diplomats laid bare the necessity for Kenya Airways to mesh better with Somali travel tendencies. Although reassurances were given that these gripes were passed along to the policymakers in Nairobi, any shake-up in strategy needs the nod from the airline’s board of directors.
The source reiterated Somalia’s zeal for a robust Kenya Airways service, remarking, “It’s a boon for us, Somalis. Reliable air links drive business travel, amplify trade, cut costs, and galvanize diplomatic relations.”
Gratitude ran deep with Kenya Airways tipping its hat to the Kenyan Embassy in Mogadishu and government bigwigs for their unyielding backing in broadening its reach across the region.
Kenya Airways has been in a see-saw scenario with its service schedules to Mogadishu. Flights first took off in December 2018, heralding a stride in bolstering regional ties. Alas, the COVID-19 storm in 2020 clipped its wings temporarily. They were back in the skies by February 2022, running thrice a week from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s Terminal 2.
Fast forward to August 2023, a bilateral air services pact inked between Kenya and Somalia ramped up cooperation, crafting fresh avenues for travelers, particularly catering to business professionals and humanitarian units active in the area.
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Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
