Kenya Airways (KQ) has reduced the number of direct flights to the United States from three to two a week.
The move follows a drop in the number of passengers on the route, with the national carrier recording a cabin factor of below 65 percent compared to over 70 percent between June and the end of August when more people sought to travel for summer holidays.
“We are now in low season and demand for travel on the route has gone down. We have had to reduce the number of flights from three to two on the New York route starting this month,” KQ told Business Daily.
Nonstop flights to the JF Kennedy International Airport in New York will be on Tuesday and Saturday.
The airline resumed New York direct flights in November, 2020 after an eight-month hiatus occasioned by the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February, the flights were reduced to one per week due to low passenger demand in the wake of fresh COVID-19 restrictions. Kenya Airways increased the flights to three in June as summer bookings picked up.
Before the pandemic hit Kenya and other parts of the world, the airline was operating five direct flights to New York.
KQ launched nonstop flights to the US in October 2018, cutting the journey to 15 hours, with the airline completing 594 trips to and from New York and flying at least 105,084 passengers as of October 2019.
Who want to compare KQ with…
Who want to compare KQ with Ethiopian? Ethiopian has 2 profit making US routes (from DC and JFK) to Addis. KQ has one loss making route from JFK to NBO. Both KQ and Ethiopian operate the same Boeing 787, only difference is leadership.
Bongoinzi Kenyans fight…
Bongoinzi Kenyans fight corruption from sub-Chief,AP arresting changaa and traffic constable taking shs 100 from matatu.Then ndio hao worshiping Uhuru & Co elite thugs for “EATING” their shs 2b daily-ATI AKO NA AKILI MINGI.Ethiopians on the other hand arrest,try and EXECUTE Emperor Haile Selassie for EATING their money.Other corrupt military rulers have also been executed expect Mengistu who exiled in Zimbabwe.The immediate disposed president is in KALITI Prison awaiting the gallows.RISASI TU
Why didn’t KQ start with…
Why didn’t KQ start with just one, and move up that way. Now it seems they are starting up going down, hopefully not to zero trips…poor of the poorest management plan! plus, bure kabisa anyway, due to corruption everywhere!
Who want to incur $2000+ for…
Who want to incur $2000+ for economy seat? While there are airlines charging $900 for economy seat? Why should someone incur $400+ to connect at jfk to nbo? Its time the kenya airways to change the plan not the goal. Increase non stop flight and look for a centralized airport in the usa not necessarily newyork which is expensive for an airline like kq, most Kenyan don’t reside in york look at southern or northern states like Indiana,tx, ok will be best bet for kq.
I said before that hhis was …
I said before that hhis was “Destination to NOwhere” in Face of KQ corruption.
Loiks like everyone making…
Loiks like everyone making comments is an aviation exprt.
@Niglet seems to be a…
@Niglet seems to be a shareholder in Uhuru & Co.CORRUPTION CO-OPERATION (K).But like other bongoinzis,(s)he pays for what is looted unlike kina Ruto,Ngilu,Raila,Mumbi etc who are paid 40% per passenger in the plane.Why does the so-called govt pump money to KQ every year while Buffett earned shs 200b.in 2020 COVID year from SW Airlines?RISASI TU
Where is your evidence your…
Where is your evidence your IQ level looks below 60
@ Niglet,all the comments I…
@ Niglet,all the comments I see here thus far dont need any knowledge in aviation. We are strictly talking about business decisions that do impact, all transport companies,and even manufacturing.Infact all businesses for that matter. And that is supply and demand.
Yes airline industries are among the most affected by Covid19 fallout.Less passengers= less flights,which invariably translate eventually to higher cost.
It was a sarcastic comment…
It was a sarcastic comment that I made earlier
The management of Kenya…
The management of Kenya airways and Kenya airports needs some changes. Anytime I travel to Kenya, I see so many idle employees (wearing those orange and yellow vests) just standing and staring around..on the tarmac or the hallways. People who just move so slowly and with no purpose. How many of such have you seen in any US airports? People seem to be hired, not because of thei competence but connection. This extends to flight crews and airport attendants.
Streamline the operations and make them lean!