Fly Dubai has launched direct flights between Dubai and Nairobi in a move that has been described as a significant boost to air connectivity between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In a statement on Wednesday, October 15, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed the new service and detailed the carrier’s expansion within the Kenyan market.
"Fly Dubai has launched a new direct service from Dubai to Nairobi, operating 4 times weekly, & increased its Mombasa route to daily flights. The carrier’s expansion brings its total weekly services to Kenya to 11, reinforcing air links between the UAE & Kenya," the statement read.
KAA said the new Nairobi route was officially inaugurated at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) during a colourful ceremony attended by aviation and government officials.
"The Nairobi service debuted this evening during a colourful reception ceremony held at JKIA. The added capacity is expected to boost tourism, business travel & air cargo flows, supporting Kenya’s economic recovery & trade ties with the Gulf," the statement added.
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The authority noted that Fly Dubai’s expansion comes amid a wave of new airlines choosing to operate at JKIA in 2025.
"Fly Dubai’s move follows a wave of new connections to JKIA in 2025, with Gulf Air, Flight Link, Salam Air, TAAG Angola and Flynas also launching services this year. The market is signaling strong confidence in Kenya’s growth potential," the statement further read.
According to KAA, the new route fits within Kenya’s broader vision of strengthening its status as a regional aviation hub.
"Strategically, the expanded schedule aligns with Kenya’s national objectives to deepen global connectivity, attract investment & strengthen its role as an East African hub for trade and tourism," the statement concluded.
This comes months after Kenya Airways announced a new international route following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qatar Airways.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 1, the national carrier announced that Qatar Airways will introduce a third daily flight between Doha and Nairobi, operated in codeshare with Kenya Airways.
At the same time, a new route between Mombasa and Doha will be launched during the upcoming winter season, operated by Kenya Airways and marketed by Qatar Airways.
In the MoU signed in Doha by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer and Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka, the two airlines have also committed to expanding their cooperation across their respective networks to offer passengers a broader range of travel options.
“This partnership is yet another demonstration of our deepening ties with the African region. Today’s agreement, which comes as we celebrate 20 years of flying to Kenya, is coupled with our recognisable record of partnerships across the continent, most recently through our investment in Airlink.
"Our growing collaboration with our African counterparts ensures that Qatar Airways continues to contribute to the continent’s rapidly evolving aviation and economic ecosystem," Al-Meer said.
