Zambia has suspended all Kenya Airways (KQ) flights effective October 8, 2024, citing the denial of authorization for Zambia Airways to operate flights into Nairobi using a wet-leased aircraft.
In a letter addressed to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) dated October 2, the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority first highlighted that Zambia Airways had been granted a Foreign Operators Permit by Kenya.
The Zambian Aviation Authority however said that the authorization for Zambia Airways to operate flights into Nairobi using the specific aircraft, a wet-leased B737-700, was denied.
It added that efforts to resolve the matter have so far been unsuccessful.
“The Zambian CAA made an appeal to KCAA to reconsider their position and grant Zambia Airways (2014) Limited the required authorisation to fly into Nairobi using the wet leased B737-700 aircraft,” reads the statement.
“The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has maintained the same position of not granting authorization to Zambia Airways (2014) Limited.”
This suspension will greatly impact Kenya Airways, which operates many flights per week to and from Zambia, and thousands who depend on KQ to travel between the two countries.
KQ operates two daily flights from Nairobi to Lusaka, a direct morning flight and an afternoon flight that has a stop-over in Harare, Zimbabwe.
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In its defense, the Authority in the letter highlighted that the Ministry of Transport and Logistics of Zambia has made multiple appeals, including sending a follow-up letter to the Kenyan Ministry of Transport on July 26, 2024, seeking intervention.
Why Zambia stopped Kenya Airways flights
The Zambian Aviation Authority claimed there has been no response from the Kenyan side.
Director General Captain Derrick Luembe further said that he reached out to KCAA to discuss this matter via email and WhatsApp on 1st October 2024.
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However, Luembe lamented that there has been no response from KCAA.
“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,” said the Director General.
“Kindly, accept the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Tanzania suspends flights
Back in January, Tanzania suspended all KQ flights citing a reciprocity dispute after Kenya refused a request for all-cargo flight operations by Air Tanzania Company Limited.
Tanzania in a statement signed by the Director General Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Hamza Johari cited Kenya’s refusal as a breach of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services between the two countries signed on November 24, 2016, in Nairobi.
However, the neighboring country withdrew its decision to suspend flight services between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam after Kenya granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right to Air Tanzania Company Limited for all-cargo service.
“Following this development, the aeronautical authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania hereby withdraw its Decision of 15 January 2024 and therefore approval for Kenya Airways to operate Third and Fourth Freedom Traffic Rights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, is hereby restored with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Johari said the move to allow all-cargo service would take effect from January 16, 2024.
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