NAIROBI - Kenya Airways will next month launch flights to the Angolan capital Luanda, this being its its 50th destination. This follows the successful approval of landing rights from the Angola Government.

The airline’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Titus Naikuni said Angola was a key destination for Kenya Airways and its addition is a major milestone for its growing African network.

"We expect to commence operations with two flights a week on Tuesdays and Fridays beginning August 17th. The flight will be operated as a code share with TAAG Angolan Airlines between Luanda and Nairobi, giving superb connections that will offer a better way to fly from Angola to the rest of the world and vice versa with seamless connections at the Jomo Kenyatta International Aiport (JKIA) hub and vast city pairs offered by KQ,” Naikuni said.

He said Kenya Airways expected the new route to serve traders, corporates, leisure travelers and prospective Travel public at large adding that it would be structured to afford passengers shorter connection time to Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Far East through its hub at the JKIA in Nairobi.

"Angola is our 50th destination and the 41st in Africa, making us the forerunners in connecting Africa to Africa and the World,” said Naikuni.

The airline also announced the appointment of Belchix Company as its Representative in Angola.

The move comes shortly after the airline started flights to Juba in Southern Sudan in June.

Kenya Airways also took delivery of two additional Embraer 170LR aircraft that have now boosted its fleet to serve the growing regional network.

Another aircraft; an Embraer 190- is expected to be delivered by November this year as the airline focuses on building its fleet with narrow bodied long range airliners.

Kenya Airways is also now a full SkyTeam member, giving passengers and cargo customers access to a much wider range of destinations all over the world.

Since its inception in 1977, KQ has grown and today serves over three million passengers annually and flies to 49 destinations, including 40 cities across Africa, as well as Amsterdam, Paris and London and select destinations in Asia, including Dubai, Mumbai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

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