Zambia Airways’ aircraft has finally landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after Kenya’s refusal to allow a Zambia Airways wet-leased Boeing B737-700 to operate in Nairobi triggered a diplomatic standoff.
This standoff led Zambia to suspend all Kenya Airways (KQ) flights into its airspace, coinciding with Zambia Airways’ expansion into East Africa. This offers travellers more regional options and marks a shift in aviation dynamics between Kenya and Zambia. Zambia Airways announced a new East African route connecting Lusaka with Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, set to launch on June 27, 2024.
The airline will operate three weekly flights from Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport: Tuesdays and Thursdays will stop in Dar es Salaam before arriving in Nairobi, while Saturday flights will go directly to Nairobi before returning via Dar es Salaam.
This expansion establishes Zambia Airways as a new regional competitor to Kenya Airways, which recently suspended direct flights between Nairobi and Zambia, disrupting its customer base.
The diplomatic row began when the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) granted Zambia Airways a Foreign Operators Permit to fly into Nairobi but denied authorization for using a wet-leased Boeing B737-700 on the route.
In response, the Zambian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suspended all KQ flights to Zambia as of October 8, citing Kenya’s lack of reciprocity. Despite Zambia’s Ministry of Transport’s attempt to resolve the issue through a follow-up letter to Kenya’s Ministry of Transport on July 26, 2024, no response was received, escalating Zambia’s frustrations.
“The application for a Foreign Operators Permit for Zambia Airways (2014) Limited was granted by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. However, authorization for Zambia Airways to operate flights into Nairobi using the wet-leased B737-700 aircraft was not granted,” the Zambian CAA stated in a letter signed by Director General Derrick Lubembe.
It expressed disappointment over the lack of engagement from Kenyan authorities, noting attempts to involve Kenya’s High Commission in Zambia had also failed. Zambia’s move to suspend KQ flights signals its resolve in safeguarding its aviation interests, potentially impacting KQ’s regional business while strengthening Zambia Airways’ presence in East Africa.
The expansion offers travelers more choices and positions Zambia Airways as a competitor in a previously KQ-dominated space. Kenya Airways now faces the challenge of either resolving the impasse or ceding ground to Zambia Airways as African nations push for fair access to regional routes.
