Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the suspension of all passenger flights to Mogadishu, Somalia, effective October 14, 2024.
The decision was made due to operational challenges, as outlined in a letter from KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka to the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Transport.
Kilavuka expressed Kenya Airways’ gratitude for the continued support from the Kenyan government, including the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Kenya Embassy in Mogadishu.
“Kenya Airways requests your understanding of this unforeseen development that may reverse the positive trend and gains made so far. The decision was made after careful analysis and consideration in the best interest of the airline in the prevailing business environment,” Kilavuka remarked in a letter dated October 9, to the Principal Secretary (PS) State Department of Transport Ministry of Roads and Transport.
The suspension marks a setback for Kenya Airways, which resumed non-stop flights to Mogadishu in February 2024 after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airline had been operating three weekly flights to the Somali capital at a starting price of USD 1050 (Sh160,751).
While the specific operational challenges leading to the suspension were not disclosed, the decision highlights the ongoing challenges faced by airlines operating in the region.
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