Kenya Airways has suspended the sale of tickets from London to Nairobi, following instruction from Heathrow Airport to freeze flight bookings until September, according to Business Daily.

Kenya Airways MD, Allan Kilavuka, confirms that the airline will not accept any new bookings until the ban is lifted but will continue to fly passengers who have already booked flights between now and September.

Last year, a total of 53 000 visitors came to Kenya from the UK, making the destination Kenya’s fourth-highest source market.

Schiphol caps KQ

Amsterdam Schiphol has already capped Kenya Airways’ passenger capacity out of the airport, reducing it by 22% this summer season, forcing the carrier to fly with empty seats despite high demand.

Kenya Airways reported a nett loss of KES15,8bn (R2,28bn) in 2021, compared with a nett loss of KES36,2bn (R5,22bn) throughout 2020, when travel restrictions hit operations hardest and grounded aircraft for months.

Total revenue in the 2021 period jumped 32,98% to KES70,22bn (R10,12bn), partly thanks to air charter services, the demand for which jumped 300%.