Kenya Airways gets Malawi assent to fly into Blantyre

Kenya Airways has received approval from the Government of Malawi to begin flying into Chileka Airport in Blantyre effective June 3.

In a letter to the airline from Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Government of Malawi, Moffat Chitimbe, Kenya Airways was also given approval to resume 5th freedom traffic rights on the Lilongwe-Lusaka sector.

“I am pleased to convey government approval for your operations into Chileka Airport, Blantyre, and the exercise of 5th Freedom Traffic Rights on the Lilongwe-Lusaka sector as per your filed schedules effective 3rd June, 2013,” read the letter in part.

The approval follows an MOU signed between the Kenya and Malawi governments in 2008 which allows collaborative arrangements between designated carriers of both countries for their mutual benefit. Malawi has no national carrier so Kenya Airways will be the sole operator in the meantime.

Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Titus Naikuni said the approvals will enable KQ to enhance its presence in the Southern African country.

The granting of the 5th freedom traffic rights allows Kenya Airways to pick up passengers in Lusaka and drop them in Lilongwe and vice versa. Kenya Airways flies 10 times every week to Lilongwe and will soon announce its schedule into Blantyre.