Tourism players want the government to allow more flights to Mombasa in the wake of a major change in flights by Turkish Airline due to lack of clearance by government.
Turkish, the only airline that flies to more than 340 cities globally, connecting 127 countries, has announced the cancellation of its flights from October this year until the end of March 2024, a decision based on failure to secure flight permit.
The Diani Hospitality Owners Association has termed the move a blow to the coast region, which depends heavily on the international market mainly Europe.
“Well while we continue to self sabotage, Turkish Airlines are now flying to three cities in South Africa- Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Emirates also fly to these three cities, Johannesburg three flights daily. Cape Town two daily and Durban daily flight,” Diani Hospitality Owners Association chairman Mohammed Hersi noted.
The airline flies to three destinations in Tanzania-Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro (Arusha) and Zanzibar.
They also fly to three cities in Egypt that is Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El sheikh.
“So please don't ask me why these destinations receive more tourists. You don't walk or drive to destinations, you fly,” Hersi, a seasoned tourism industry player, posed.
Turkish also flies to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“They have been allowed to fly five times a day into Dubai home to Emirates Airlines which means the more the merrier. Scarcity mentality is serious mental block for African countries and African leaders. I truly weep for Mombasa, I wait to see if denying Mombasa access will save our national carrier,” he said.
He said while the government is keen on protecting and bailing out loss-making national carrier Kenya Airways, it should allow other airlines to fly to the different routes in the country, apart from Nairobi.
“Turkish Airline is not your traditional airline, it is the only airline that flies to 320 plus cities globally. In Germany alone 15 and 10 in the US, five in UK which means you can come to Mombasa from virtually every corner of the world,” Hersi said.
Flights to Mombasa are also supporting Diani in Kwale County, Malindi and Watamu on Kilifi County, Lamu, hotels in Tsavo Taita Taveta County and Amboseli, County.
He called on leaders in the region to engage the government on allowing more flights to Mombasa, a move that will also ensure forex reserves for the country.
“Counties are fighting for the sectors that help their local economies you should equally speak up and do it in assertive way. Tea, sugar and coffee are getting even financial support we are not even asking for bailouts, we just want a level playing field,” Hersi said.
Turkish, Qatar and Rwandair were all flying into Mombasa before Covid crisis.
Pre-Covid, Turskish Airline used to make 14 flights to Kenya- seven times to Nairobi and seven times to Mombasa - but that was reduced to seven flights a week.
KLM were to fly in December but they were denied clearance.
Hoteliers want the government to implement an open skies policy.
Kenya Airways, which in December commenced four times a week flights to Dubai, is mainly serving outbound business travellers.
The domestic market has been key in supporting the local hotel and tourism industry since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Going forward we need to see if we can bring in more international tourists. With this, the issue of low season will be a thing of the past,” Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) chief executive Julius Owino said.