Mogadishu-Nairobi direct flights resume
Wednesday March 29 2017
A Turkish Airline plane at the Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu. Somalia government officials led by Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre witnessed an African Express Airways plane take off from the seafront runway to Nairobi on Wednesday March 29, 2017. PHOTO | FILE
Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre has launched direct flights between Mogadishu and Nairobi.
The ceremony was held Wednesday March 29, at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport. Government officials witnessed the African Express Airways plane take off from the seafront runway to the Kenyan capital.
The resumption of direct flights follows an agreement between the leaders of the two countries last week.
READ: Uhuru announces direct flights to Mogadishu
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed to revive collaborations in areas of mutual interests last weekend in Nairobi .
In 2006, Kenya introduced a stopover at Wajir International Airport in northeastern Kenya for all flights coming from Somalia and destined for Nairobi.
“The stopover at Wajir will be removed within a couple of weeks,” announced President Kenyatta while hosting his Somali counterpart at State House Nairobi.
Kenya has always insisted that the stopover was needed for security reasons despite travellers from Somalia complaining about inconveniences.
According to reports, flights from other towns in Somalia such as Hargeisa, Bossaso and Galkayo will have to transit in Mogadishu before proceeding to Nairobi.