President William Ruto has announced that Kenya Airways will resume direct flights to Luanda, Angola, starting in March.
In a statement on Wednesday, January 8, after holding talks with Angolan President João Lourenço in Luanda, Ruto highlighted the importance of the agreement.
"We welcome Angola's decision to work with Kenya in facilitating the resumption of Kenya Airways' direct flights to Luanda from March.
"Coupled with the reciprocal waiver of visa requirements for Kenyans, this will strengthen bilateral ties and expand opportunities for enhanced cooperation and mutual benefits," he said.
The reciprocal visa waiver is seen as a significant diplomatic achievement, allowing citizens of both nations to travel freely.
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Additionally, the discussions between the two leaders also touched on continental matters, including support for Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
"We also discussed Raila Odinga's candidacy for the African Union Commission chairmanship," Ruto added.
Other issues the two leaders discussed include peace in the Great Lakes region and institutional reforms within the African Union.
Ruto, who is entrusted by his fellow African heads of state to lead AU reform efforts, extended an invitation to Lourenço for a retreat in Kenya later this month in preparation for the AU Heads of State Summit in February.
Regarding the Luanda Process for Peace in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, they emphasized the importance of a joint meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to strengthen the initiative.
“Peace and security in our continent is of paramount importance to us all, and we are keen to have a process that incorporates all and ensure its success,” Ruto explained.
This comes a month after Kenya Airways announced direct flights to London's Gatwick airport.
In a statement on December 9, 2024, Kenya Airways said starting July 2, 2025, the national carrier will operate three weekly nighttime flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Gatwick.
According to Kenya Airways, the new Gatwick service will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, complementing the airline’s existing daily flights to Heathrow.
"The United Kingdom is essential and strategic for Kenya Airways and Kenya. It provides a gateway for trade, tourism, education, business, leisure travel, and diaspora connections.
"We are excited to add Gatwick Airport to our expansive network as it means that KQ guests now have more options in and out of the UK and a convenient schedule that suits their travel preferences," Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said.
