Blow to Kenya Airways as Zambia suspends flights

By Peter Ochieng

The Kenya Airways (KQ) is expected to suffer a major economic blow after the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA) suspended all its flights into Lusaka.

The suspension, according to a statement from ZCCA dated October 02, 2024, takes effect on Tuesday, October 08, 2024.

ZCCA cited the denial of authorization for Zambia Airways, to operate flights into Nairobi using a wet-leased aircraft, with efforts to amicably resolve the matter reportedly proving unsuccessful.

“The Zambian CAA made an appeal to KCAA to reconsider their position and grant Zambia Airways (2014) Limited the required authorization to fly into Nairobi using the wet leased B737-700 aircraft. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has maintained the same position of not granting authorization to Zambia Airways (2014) Limited,” ZCAA stated.

ZCAA Director General, Derrick Luembe said that his communications to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to resolve the stalemate have not been responded to.

“Considering the lack of response and reciprocity on the matter of Zambia Airways (2014) Limited flights into Nairobi- Kenya, I regret to inform you that all Kenya Airways flights into Zambia are hereby suspended with effect from time 21:59 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on 8th October 2024. Kindly, accept the assurances of my highest consideration.”

KQ operates two daily flights to Lusaka Zambia. If it comes into effect, the suspension is likely to inconvenience travellers who depend on KQ flights for travel between Nairobi and Lusaka.

The flight from Nairobi to Lusaka takes less than four hours.

In January, 2024, Tanzania suspended all KQ flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salam after Kenya declined a request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited.

Hamza Johari, Director General Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) cited Kenya’s refusal as a breach of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Air Services between the two countries, signed on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi.

The matter was however resolved and Kenya Airways was allowed to operate flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.