Kenya Airways’ access to Mogadishu further delayed

Kenya’s national carrier Kenya Airways which was set to resume flights to Mogadishu this week after several years has indefinitely put off the plan citing delay in ‘in getting additional operation requirements’.

The carrier, commonly referred to as KQ said Tuesday it would hold back its earlier plans to fly the Mogadishu route until all requirements are met but did not cite any future dates.

“There is delay in KQ getting the additional operational requirement—-and the launch has been postponed until further notice,” KQ CEO Sebasatian Mikosz said in a statement.

Tuesday announcement is the second following a similar delay last month after failing to meet November 15 deadly. The Kenyan premier airline had cited insurance demands by Mogadishu as reason for the November delay.

“The additional requirements relate to insurances that the airline has to get for aircraft flying on this route. Approval process is what has delayed a bit and we expect to finalise this process within the shortest time possible,” said Mikosz.

KQ’s entry into Mogadishu was expected to increase international competition for the Horn of Africa country after Ethiopian Airlines resumed its flights to Mogadishu early November after a 40-year hiatus.