Leading African airline Kenya Airways (KQ) recently announced its plans to broaden its network by  flying into Angola’s capital city, Luanda, starting 17 August 2010.  After successfully securing KQ’s landing rights with the Angolan aviation authorities, Dr Titus Naikuni, Group Managing Director and CEO confirmed that the new route will not only be a key destination for the airline, but will also mark a major milestone in growing its African network.

“We expect to commence operations with two flights a week on Tuesdays and Fridays, which will operate as a code share with TAAG Angolan Airlines between Luanda and Nairobi, maximising connections from Angola to the rest of the world and vice versa.” Naikuni said.

Rosemary Adogo, Area Manager Southern Africa, ” With the introduction of the Angola route, Kenya Airways will now fly to 50 destinations worldwide, with 41 being in Africa, ensuring that we are firmly pursuing our expansion into the continent, making us the forerunners in connecting Africa to Africa and beyond.”

This new route is expected to service traders, corporate executives and leisure travellers and will afford passengers optimum connectivity times into Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and Europe through its hub in Nairobi at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). In addition, Kenya Airways have also appointed Belchix as their Ground Service Agent in Angola.

By Muzi Mohale