{"id":2603,"date":"2018-05-04T06:52:15","date_gmt":"2018-05-04T06:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/candrgroup.co.ke\/?p=2603"},"modified":"2024-02-08T20:45:48","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T20:45:48","slug":"direct-flights-to-ny-signal-better-days-ahead-for-kenyans-and-kq-shareholders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/candrgroup.co.ke\/2018\/05\/04\/direct-flights-to-ny-signal-better-days-ahead-for-kenyans-and-kq-shareholders\/","title":{"rendered":"Direct flights to NY signal better days ahead for Kenyans and KQ shareholders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The recent Kenya Airways\u2019 major announcement that it would start daily direct flights from Nairobi to New York in October, with tickets already on sale, has no doubt had promising effects with hopes of sparking a lot of positive impact in the socio-economic sphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On October 28, 2 days after President Kenyatta\u2019s 57th<\/sup> birthday, he will be getting on the first direct Kenya Airways flight to the United States of America. This is probably the best birthday gift he could ask for, not just for him, but a gift for all Kenyans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government, KQ\u2019s top shareholder, has recently stepped up its campaign to actualize direct flights to America, with the Uhuru Kenyatta administration anticipating it will boost exports to the US and help jumpstart the tourism sector. This direct route from Nairobi to New York provides Kenya Airways the opportunity to reclaim its position as the premier airline in Africa, the true Pride of Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n New horizons beckon as KQ will now have direct flights to the US. This can be a boon for diaspora Kenyan\u2019s who traditionally had to connect when returning to the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only has the move opened doors in the employment sector by creating more jobs but it\u2019s also projected as a major boost to tourism and trade between the two countries. For example, a United Nations World Tourism Organization research shows that for every 10 tourists that visit, one new job is created. Direct access to Kenya will increase the natural propensity for tourists to choose Kenya as a destination due to ease of travel and naturally, the cost will also be significantly lower, therefore a multiple basis for a natural increase in the numbers of tourists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The direct non-stop flight will cut flight time between the two cities by more than six hours, hence saving both time and money. Diaspora Kenyan\u2019s living in the US should be called upon to consciously, as a show of patriotism\/nationalism, choose to fly Kenya Airways when traveling home or when recommending flights to those from Kenya coming to visit them, especially because they are likely to choose to travel home or receive visitors from home more often now. Lucy, a Kenyan living in New Jersey is excited about the prospect of finally getting her nephews and nieces to visit her. Previously she has decried that she has been unable to see her family as often as she would like due to the difficulty and high cost of the multiple flight connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The securities investors have already started reaping benefits. Days after the announcement, Kenya Airways noticed a rise in market cap by Kshs 9.7 billion to Kshs. 98.3 billion. The same week also saw the airline\u2019s stock closing at Kshs. 17.30 at the end of the week, up from Kshs. 15.60 at the beginning of that same week. This is an indication that there is more to come from the direct flights to New York. According to a market brief by Kingdom Securities, \u201cKenya Airways joined the day\u2019s top gainers on the news of the expected direct flight to the US. The airline\u2019s management anticipates its daily direct flights to the United States that it launches for the first time in October to boost annual revenue by 10 percent from 2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n