By Brian Adero
Chinese aviation officials say they want their airlines to partner with Kenya Airways (KQ) on direct flights from Kenya to their country. Mr Yang Guoqing, the deputy minister in-charge of China Civil Aviation, says that due to KQ’s wider spread in terms of market expansion, they have identified the national carrier as a strong airline in Africa worth working with.
He said that although China signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (Basa) with Kenya three years ago, there is no need for airlines from China to launch direct flights to Nairobi. "Though the agreement allows airlines from both countries to operate between us, we want our airlines to work with KQ," he said.
He spoke during a visit by a Chinese aviation delegation to Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, on Thursday.
KQ flies four times a week to Guangzhou, China. Guoqing said that during an earlier visit to KQ’s Embakasi headquarters, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Titus Naikuni, had talked of KQ’s intention to expand to other parts in China.
With more than 30 airlines serving both domestic and International routes, China’s aviation market is dominated by Air China based in Guangzhou, China Eastern based in Shanghai and China Southern based in Guangzhou.
Guoquing is optimistic that China Southern, which is based in Guangzhou, could soon sign a joint venture with KQ, which will make a lot of contribution to the existing agreements between the two airlines.
Mwakwere assured the delegation that Kenya has made a lot of effort in meeting international aviation standards, which has made Nairobi one of the leading aviation hubs in Africa.
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