Kenya Airways grounds Mogadishu flights as Somali carriers gain ground
Posted: 10 Oct 2024, 08:38
Mogadishu (HOL) — Kenya Airways (KQ) will suspend all passenger flights to Mogadishu, Somalia, starting October 14, 2024, due to operational challenges. The announcement was made by KQ's Group Managing Director and CEO, Allan Kilavuka, in a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Roads and Transport, Mohamed Daghar, dated October 9, 2024.
"Due to operational challenges, Kenya Airways Board and Management has made the decision to suspend passenger flights to Mogadishu effective 14th October 2024," Kilavuka stated in the letter.
The suspension comes after the airline "carefully analyzed" the current business environment. Kilavuka emphasized that the decision was made in the airline's best interest, considering the challenges it faces in the prevailing environment.
"Kenya Airways requests for your understanding of this unforeseen development that may reverse the positive trend and gains made so far," Kilavuka explained.
The airline has faced stiff competition from Somali-owned airlines, including Freedom Airline Express and Premier Airlines, which offer more flexible booking options like one-way tickets and fewer penalties, such as an absence of "no-show" charges. These Somali carriers, which operate several of the 25 weekly flights on this route, have gained popularity by catering to the specific preferences of Somali travellers.
