Govt Announces Resumption Of Kenya-Angola Flights

Kenya and Angola will work together to ensure Kenya Airways resumes direct flights to Luanda, Angola, beginning in March 2025.

This was announced on Wednesday, January 8 after a meeting between Presidents William Ruto and João Lourenço of Angola at the Angolan presidential palace in Luanda.

According to State House, this marks a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.

Additionally, Angola will work towards waiving visa requirements for Kenyans visiting the country, reciprocating Kenya’s earlier gesture.

President William Ruto (left) with his Angolan counterpart João Lourenço in Luanda on January 8, 2025. /PCS

"We welcome Angola's decision to work with Kenya in facilitating the resumption of Kenya Airways' direct flights to Luanda from March," stated Ruto on his social media pages.

"Coupled with the reciprocal waiver of visa requirements for Kenyans, this will strengthen bilateral ties and expand opportunities for enhanced cooperation and mutual benefits."

The Head of State added that the move will enable professionals like teachers to access Angola much more easily.

Furthermore, Ruto, mandated by African heads of state to lead AU reforms, invited Lourenço for a retreat in Kenya later this month ahead of the AU Heads of State Summit in February 2025.

Whereas Kenya Airways is yet to issue a statement on the developments by the time of publishing, including the exact schedule of the incoming flights, this comes as a huge boost for the airline's fortunes in terms of growing its African network.

This will allow Angola travellers to benefit from KQ's vast network as upon arrival at its main hub in Nairobi, travellers have options to choose from in terms of flights to other destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States (US).

The deal for the resumption of direct flights is not a new development. This was a point of discussion during Lourenço's visit to Kenya in October 2023, even though he missed the 60th Mashujaa Day celebrations despite arriving in the country a day before.

During the joint-media briefing, Ruto also announced that Kenya secured a deal for the resumption of direct flights between the two countries after they were stopped at the onset of the global pandemic.

He also announced that Kenya waived visa requirements for the citizens of Angola, which was on its part however yet to sign a similar deal then. On his part, Lourenço indicated that the matter would be discussed once he returns to Angola, promising that a decision would be made in the coming days.

Other than the Nairobi-Luanda flights, KQ is set to add flights to London on July 2, 2025, set to operate from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to Gatwick Airport.

This announcement on Monday, December 9, 2024, means KQ will serve the UK through two entry points, that is Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) with KQ Customers being able to choose a second nonstop flight into London.