This article has been updated since first publication with corrected flight times.

Plans are under way for Kenya Airways (KQ) to introduce daily flights between Nairobi and New York in October after securing a landing slot at JFK.

The flight will depart New York at 12h25 and arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi at 10h55 the following day.

The flight from Nairobi will depart at 23h25 and arrive at 06h25 the next morning – a flight time of 15 hours.

KQ Chairman, Michael Joseph, said the carrier had set its sights on commencing flights to New York in October after acquiring the required permits for it to fly to the US. “The launch of direct flights between Kenya and the US will be a milestone for the country and Kenya Airways. The flights will boost tourism in Kenya as well as business between the East African country and the US.”

Kenya Airways plans to deploy a 234-seat B787 Dreamliner on the route, with 204 seats in economy class and 30 in business class. “We are currently loading the flights onto our system. We will be ready to receive bookings from Thursday,” said Joseph.

According to statistics from Kenya Tourism Board, about 100 000 Americans visit Kenya for leisure and business every year.