Kenya Airways Flights To Zambia To Resume After Talks To Resolve Row

UPDATE: Kenya Airways has announced that it has confirmed receiving a letter from the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA) to its counterpart in Kenya, stating that it has engaged in discussions with Zambian authorities on the matter.

Following the talks, flights to and from Zambia's capital, Lusaka, will resume.

“Following discussions between the two regulators, we would like to assure our customers that our flights into and out of Zambia will continue to operate per schedule,” KQ said, adding “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

Zambia’s Ministry of Transport revealed in a statement that Kenyan authorities have resolved to allow Zambia Airways to fly into Kenya.

The government of Zambia is set to suspend all Kenya Airways flights to its capital, Lusaka, from Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

In a letter to the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) seen by Viral Tea dated October 2, the Zambian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) attributed this decision to the delay by KCAA in responding to its request to allow Zambia Airways to land in Nairobi.

Zambia’s Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority Derrick Luembe revealed that the airline through the Ministry of Transport and Logistics requested scheduled flights from Lusaka, Zambia into Nairobi, Kenya, which would have seen the airline land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Though a Foreign Operators Permit was revealed to have been granted by KCAA to Zambia Airways after an application, the permission to use a wet-leased Boeing 737-700 for the Lusaka-Nairobi route was denied.

A Zambia Airways plane. /STAR ALLIANCE VIRTUAL

A Wet Lease in aviation is a leasing arrangement where one airline (the lessor) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline or business entity (the lessee). The lessee pays based on hours operated, making it a comprehensive solution for airlines needing additional capacity without the responsibilities of full aircraft ownership.

"The Zambian CAA made an appeal to KCAA to reconsider their position and grant Zambia Airways (2014) Limited the required authorisation to fly into Nairobi using the wet-leased B737-700 aircraft. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has maintained the same position of not granting authorisation to Zambia Airways (2014) Limited," wrote Luembe in part.

As further revealed by ZCAA, the Ministry went on to write another letter dated July 26, 2024, to its counterpart in Kenya to seek intervention in the matter, but no response was forthcoming from the latter. 

To make progress on the matter, Zambia's Ministry of Transport and Logistics through Foreign Affairs on September 12, 2024, held a meeting with the Kenyan Acting High Commissioner to Zambia, to discuss the matter in detail. 

"Our Ministry was requested to submit all relevant documentation related to this matter for the Acting High Commissioner to intervene," added Luembe.

"All relevant documents were submitted, and the Acting High Commissioner promised that feedback would be given by the end of the following week. Unfortunately to date, there has been no response to this matter and it still remains unresolved."

Seemingly running out of options, Luembe revealed that he reached out to KCAA on October 1, 2024, to discuss the matter through email and WhatsApp, but no response came towards him, a matter which prompted him to take decisive action.

"Considering the lack of response and reciprocity on the matter of Zambia Airways (2014) Limited flights into Nairobi- Kenya, I regret to inform you that all Kenya Airways flights into Zambia are hereby suspended with effect from time 21:59 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on 8th October 2024," Luembe communicated to the KCAA director general.

Kenya Airways, KCAA and the Ministry of Transport have yet to issue official responses to the matter by the time of publishing this article.

This incoming suspension may strain relations between the two countries in the aviation sector and could impact travel and business links between Zambia and Kenya unless further negotiations take place.

Zambia’s Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority Derrick Luembe. /LINKEDIN