US Clears Kenya Airways to Operate Direct Flights to Washington

The US has granted Kenya's national carrier, Kenya Airways clearance to fly direct flights from Nairobi to Washington DC.

US Office of International Aviation director Brian Hedberg on Friday said that the order was effected on September 5.

Hedberg said that the US had no objections following a request by Kenya on June 12th to operate direct flights.

Hedberg said that interested parties were asked to give reasons that would block the award of a permit to KQ for flights to Washington DC and were given a 21-day period to file objections to the order, but none was filed.

"We said that if no objections were filed, all further procedural steps would be deemed waived, and the department would enter an order which would make final the findings and conclusions of the order."

He added: "We make final our findings and conclusions as stated in the order and award to Kenya Airways the foreign air carrier permit with associated conditions attached."

The director had promised that the order would be granted 61 days after submission for review unless disapproved by the US President or upon receipt advice from the President or his designee.

"The 61st day [was] September 5. Since the President or his designee did not disapprove this order before that date, it became effective on [that date]."

He said that details of the order will be availed to the airline, the Kenyan embassy in DC, the Department of State and the Federation Aviation Administration.