The government has said that it has initiated talks with the Tanzanian government to resolve the suspension of Kenya Airways flights from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam.
Prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Monday January 15 evening said that the ministry of foreign affairs had already engaged with their counterparts in Tanzania to sort out the matter.
The CS who spoke just hours after the Tanzania Civil Aviation announced the suspension of KQ flights into Tanzania, added that the two countries have agreed to find a quicker solution to the matter.
“I have this evening spoken to January Makamba, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, with regard to the decision of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority to rescind the approvals for Kenya Airways to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam with effect from 22nd January 2024,” said Mudavadi who is also the foreign affairs cabinet secretary.
“We have jointly agreed that our respective Civil Aviation Authorities will work together to have the matter resolved amicably within the next three days. There should therefore be no cause for alarm,” he added.
Mudavadi made the statements just hours after Tanzania withdrew approval for the national carrier to operate flights between the Kenyan capital Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania said the decision was taken in retaliation for Kenya’s denial of rights to Tanzania national carrier Air Tanzania to operate cargo flights between the two countries.
In a statement, Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) said it decided “to rescind the approvals for Kenya Airways (KQ) to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam… with effect from 22 January 2024.”
However, KQ in another statement released shortly after the suspension, said that it is also working to ensure there are no flight disruptions between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
The airline said that it was engaging civil aviation authorities and relevant government agencies in Kenya and Tanzania to find a solution to the matter.
“Kenya Airways is aware of the Public Notice issued by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority on 15′ January 2024, rescinding the approvals of KQ to operate passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam effective 22nd January 2024,” the national carrier said.
“Kenya Airways is engaging the Civil Aviation Authorities and relevant government agencies in Kenya and Tanzania to find a solution that will ensure there are no flight disruptions between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.”
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