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Kenya and Dubai-based Emirates airline have been drawn into an ugly quarrel over a push to have additional flights into Nairobi.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the Director-General of the Dubai Aviation Authority had been pushing to have more flight frequencies by the Emirates Airline.
Kenya protests pressure from Dubai
According to CS Macharia, Nairobi received a letter from the Dubai Aviation Authorities not to fly any carrier with more than 220 passengers into Dubai. At the same time, Emirates uses aircraft of more than 400 seat capacity into Nairobi.
More than a decade ago, Nairobi and Dubai were involved in a bitter diplomatic exchange after four members of the Dubai royal family was kicked out by immigration officials in Nairobi on suspicion that they were a terror gang.
Dubai retaliated by imposing restrictions requiring all Kenyans entering the UAE to present proof of higher education to obtain a visa. This triggered fear of deportation among thousands of Kenyans working in the Gulf nation, prompting truce talks.
Macharia said Emirates that does 14 weekly flights to Nairobi was seeking additional daily frequencies, a request that Kenya as opposed to because of the skewed advantage in favour of airlines from the Gulf region.
“When you add Etihad Airlines and Air Arabia, in total they have 28 weekly flight frequencies against Kenya Airways’ seven,” he said.
The CS said Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airlines and Air Arabia—all designated to fly from the UAE—currently have a combined weekly seat capacity of 15,400 against Kenya Airways’ 5,510.
Giving Emirates more flight capacity means they will get 90 per cent of business between Nairobi and Dubai while KQ receives 10 per cent. This is not tenable,” said CS Macharia.
He said Emirates Airlines benefits from substantial government subsidy and can sell out the seats in the Nairobi-Dubai route at throw-away prices due to the support.
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