There have been plenty of people that have traveled back to the Motherland. Some say that traveling to Africa can be a hassle while others welcome every challenge that comes with the experience.
Kenya Airways is adding a new direct route, which will hopefully curb some of the hassle and encourage a rise in tourism. North America visitors especially, who are often deterred from visiting after looking at the cost. Hopefully, things will change since starting this week, the airline is introducing direct flights from JFK to Nairobi. The new flight will head out daily at times optimized for ease. KQ002 Nairobi to New York departs 11:25 p.m., arriving at 6:25 a.m. the next day. KQ003 New York to Nairobi departs 12:25 p.m., arriving at 10:55 a.m. the next day. Sounds easy enough.
The new routes will be flown out on Boeing 787s, the crème de la crème when it comes to passenger comfort, with higher humidity and lower cabin pressure. It also removes a connection, making it easier for people to get to what they want without the layover drama. This new direct route will be a big stepping stone for Kenya economically. Mikey Carr-Hartley, the owner of several businesses like The Safari Collection and the adorable Giraffe Manor, said in an email that “the direct flight from NYC to Nairobi is a game changer for East African tourism.” He also told Skift that “it cuts the journey time by at least three to six hours as many of our clients travel via London or the Middle East and means that Kenya will be easier to reach for the U.S. traveler than ever before.”
Of course, with this new route comes new problems. Kenya Airways’ workers threatened to strike before the new deal was put into play, but a temporary injunction was put in place that bans unions members from walking out on the job. It’s still not stopping Kenya from reaching their tourism goals, trying to boost Kenya’s global profile as a tourism destination. Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi have had a growing tourism economy and incredibly successful conservation efforts.