Kenya suspends inbound, transit flights from UAE

 

The Kenyan government has suspended inbound flights from the United Arab Emirates starting January 10, in response to Dubai’s move to ban flights from Kenya.

The seven-day suspension will also affect transit passenger flights to the country.

The ban comes days after the UAE extended a ban on flights from Kenya, over what it termed as an increased number of fake COVID-19 test results from passengers who then tested positive on arrival.

The country’s health ministry has launched a probe on the matter with a view to bringing to book health officials who were involved in the shoddy deal that has now cost Kenya millions of shillings in lost passenger revenues.

Local newspaper, Business Daily, quotes Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Gilbert Kibe as saying the ban will not affect cargo flights.

“We are doing this to reciprocate a ban on Kenyan passenger flights to UAE,” Kibe said.

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority first announced a 48-hour suspension on all flights from Kenya to the Middle East nation on December 20, 2021.

This was however extended indefinitely on December 29, 2021.