Following an arrangement between foreign Governments and some airlines, expatriates in Kenya will now be flown out of the country but will have to pay thrice the normal price charged for a one-way ticket.
The agreement which involved several airlines including Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines will see expatriates pay for premium services as evacuation by foreign governments continue.
National Carrier Kenya Airways said it will ferry passengers from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to Heathrow in London at a cost of 187,692 (1,416 Euros) which is thrice the normal price of 48,215 shillings previously charged.
KQ said they have been forced to charge a premium for the services since they are deemed as Charter flights and also due to the costs incurred to ensure protection and fumigation of the planes, passengers as well as the crew members.
“This is a charter flight, under normal operations, the cost is spread out. Now it is concentrated on a few flights. There is also the extra cost of protection, cleaning, and fumigation,” said the Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka.
“We also have to ensure safe passage for the crew if there is a layover. All these costs add up and there are no economies of scale.”
The KQ CEO added that due to some incomplete processes, Kenyans wishing to jet back from abroad will not be brought back.
The Airline said that ongoing negotiations between the UK and the Kenyan Government have delayed the evacuation of Kenyans out of the foreign country.
“Some processes are not complete for bringing people back. It is an ongoing process, but we will not bring back Kenyans this time.”
Other governments have also arranged for the evacuation of their citizens out of the country. European Union organized for the charter flights with Ethiopian Airlines on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, that cost 152,818 shillings from JKIA to Frankfurt.
The US government also made a similar arrangement with Ethiopian Airlines from Nairobi to Washington.
The Nairobi- Frankfurt was, however, different. The plane had 263 available seats but there was no business nor first-class option, there was no discount for those traveling with children or infants and there was no entertainment on the flight.