Qatar Airways increased flights to Kenya

Kenya’s East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Phyllis Kandie, welcomed Qatar Airways’ decision to increase its frequency between Doha and Nairobi by adding four additional weekly flights to and from the capital city. 

Beginning Sept. 1, 2013, the airline will increase its A320 aircraft flights to 18 flights per week, up from the current 14 flights.

Country Manager – Kenya for Qatar Airways, Clifford Christopher noted the higher customer demand, both in passenger and cargo transport as the business case for adding more flights.

“As a travel destination, Nairobi has also grown in popularity over the last few years, said Christopher. “Tourists from all over the world are increasingly flocking to the capital city as an entry point to Kenya and a gateway to East Africa. 

Demand for transport to and from Nairobi has increased dramatically as a business and leisure hub for East and Central Africa, especially as a result of Kenya’s economic growth, up 4.8 percent1 since 2012. This is in part due to the country’s increase in exports of fresh produce, flowers and foliage, and of course, tea of which Kenya is one of the world’s largest exporters.

Some famous tourist destinations include: 

• Nairobi National Park – one of Kenya's most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries was established in 1946 and was Kenya's first national park. Located approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) south of the centre of Nairobi, the park boasts a large and varied wildlife population.

• Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro – Nairobi is conveniently situated between both majestic landmarks, and many would be climbers start their journey here.

• Karen Blixen Farm – a must-see for Out of Africa fans, this intimate museum and its grounds is where much of the Oscar-winning movie was filmed.

• The Rift Valley – with its savanna, geology, fauna and history as the cradle of human life, nowhere says Africa like the Rift Valley, on a clear day a person can see for hundreds of miles, right down to Tanzania.

As Kenya focuses on growing its arrivals to three million tourists per year by 2017, Qatar Airways increased passenger capacity will help to accelerate the achievement of this goal. Visitors from Europe, the Middle East, Far East and Asia Pacific will now have increased options and better connections than ever before.