KQ Flight Scheduled to Fly Back Kenyans from the UK Canceled at the Last Minute

A Kenya Airways (KQ) flight that was scheduled to fly Kenyans in the United Kingdom back home on Saturday, April 25th has been canceled. 

The Kenyan High Commission in London, in a statement on Friday, said the cancellation of the flight was due to Kenya’s strict guidelines on Covid-19.

Kenyans returning from abroad amid the Covid-19 pandemic are required to produce proof that they are free of the virus before boarding a flight in the host country. 

This means Kenyans in the UK cannot be allowed to travel home as only sick people are tested for the bug in the UK. The returnees were also required to undertake the requisite 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Kenya.

“Covid-19 tests in the UK are administered only to those who are sick and are admitted to the hospital. Passengers are, therefore, unable to take tests to prove that they do not have coronavirus. We continue to work to find a way that passengers can be tested before travel,” the commission said in the statement.

The mission further urged Kenyans in the diaspora to remain where they are until travel restrictions are lifted.

“We must emphasize that we have authority from cooperating governments to facilitate flights for only stranded passengers. We encourage other Kenyans in the diaspora to remain where they are until such a time when the lockdown is lifted, and air travel and air space is open,” it added.

A one-way ticket for this flight was going for Sh56,000 while those with children were required to pay an extra Sh5,600.