Delta enhances codeshare with Kenya Airways
Nairobi-based Kenya Airways has expanded its codeshare agreement with US carrier Delta Air Lines. By doing this, the Kenyan national flag carrier has extended its offerings in the United States. In addition, Kenya Airways will use John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to connect to other North American destinations.
The new agreement builds on the two airline’s already extensive codeshare network to effortlessly offer travel to 39 cities accross Africa and North America. The enhanced understanding will now allow Delta Air Lines customers flying from JFK to Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana, to codeshare on Kenya Airways flights to Monrovia, Liberia, and Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The codeshare adds more routes in Africa
Delta passengers will also be allowed to codeshare on Kenya Airways flights from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to the following African destinations:
Cape Town, South Africa: Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Harare, Zimbabwe: Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) Kigali, Rwanda: Kigali International Airport (KGL)
For Kenyan Airways passengers flying from Nairobi to New York, they will now be able to codeshare on flights from JFK to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington DC and Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in Indiana.
Both airlines like the agreement
When speaking about the enhanced codeshare agreement in a statement released today, Delta’s E.V.P and President International Alain Bellemare said the following:
“Delta is the leading U.S. airline in Africa. Strengthening our partnership with Kenya Airways responds to customer demand for more travel choice between the continent and North America. “These codeshare services will offer customers greater access to destinations in South, West and East Africa, rounding out Delta’s existing network of nonstop services to Accra, Dakar, Johannesburg, and Lagos.”
While speaking on behalf of how Kenya Airways viewed the enhanced codeshare agreement, Kenya Airways Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Julius Thairu said:
“Kenya Airways and Delta Air Lines’ partnership remains central to our plans of offering the fastest connections to the Americas from our Nairobi hub and is in line with our brand promise of enabling the sustainable development of Africa by providing access to different markets. “In addition to Washington’s Ronald Regan National Airport and Indianapolis, Indiana, other destinations we have within the codeshare are New York: Chicago O’Hare – Illinois, Denver – Colorado, Orlando – Florida, Miami – Florida, Raleigh Durham – North Carolina, Phoenix – Arizona, Charlotte – North Carolina.”
Kenya Airways first started flying from Nairobi to New York in 2019 using its state-of-the-art flagship Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a capacity for 234 passengers. For the 15-hour overnight flight, Kenya Airways staffs the aircraft with four pilots and 12 flight attendants.
With Kenya Airways and Delta Air Lines both being members of the SkyTeam alliance, frequent flyers can earn and redeem miles on both airlines.
Kenya lifts its UK flight ban
In other related Kenya Airways new the Kenyan government relaxed its COVID-19 travel restrictions from flights originating in the United Kingdom. All passengers need to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no longer than 96 hours before arriving in Kenya. After arriving, passengers must self-isolate for seven days and take a second PCR test after four days in the country.
Tourism is big business for Kenya. With the dry season between July and September fast approaching, Kenya wants to make the most of its annual wildebeest and zebra migration during this period in the Mara Game Reserve.
