All set for historic Kenya Airways direct flight to New York tonight

It’s all systems go for the maiden Kenya Airways flight that will fly direct to the United States beginning Sunday evening in a historic event to be overseen by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Boeing 787 dreamliner with a capacity of 234 passengers is scheduled to depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 10.25 pm on Sunday and touch down at the JF Kennedy International Airport in New York on Monday at around 1.30 pm East African Time (EAT)

The 15-hour flight will cut the long hours passengers have been spending connecting through different continents.

The inaugural direct flights will see Kenya become the first East African country and the eighth in Africa to operate direct flights to the US.

In Africa, only South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Senegal and Morocco make direct flights to US.

The maiden flight comes barely two days after the High Court barred aviation workers who had vowed to go on a strike if the airline did not conclude their Collective Bargaining Agreement before Sunday.

On Friday, Justice Byram Ongaya blocked the strike during the inaugural day pending hearing of their case.

Last week, Statehouse Spokesperson Kanze Dena, said the direct flights are aimed at opening the country to more investors, tourists and strengthening the partnership with Kenya and the East African Community.

“The President will be excited to join Kenyans at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to launch the first direct flight from Africa to New York,” said Kanze Dena in a press briefing at State Lodge, Kakamega.

The highly publicised trip will see 468 passengers boarding the plane among them senior officials led by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma, Kenya Airways chief executive Sebastian Mikosz and chairman Michael Joseph.

After the inauguration, Kenya Airways will be deploying a Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet with a capacity of 234 seats for their daily flight to New York city.