THE tourism sector has lauded government efforts in increasing arrival of new flights into the country, five so far this year, a move termed as a major boost to accessibility to the destination.
On Wednesday, Dubai-based carrier Fly Dubai, touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) carrying 80 passengers on board, being the fifth Arline to make maiden entry to the country in the recent past.
Flydubai will operate four-weekly flights to Nairobi, in addition to the airline's existing daily service to Mombasa.
Middle East's low-cost airline–Flynas also commenced direct flights between Nairobi and Saudi Arabia’s capital ofRiyadh, eying pilgrims, business and leisure travellers.
Kenya Airways and Etihad Airways have also introduced new or increased flights to JKIA in 2025.
The country’s national carrier began direct flights from London Gatwick, adding to its existing Heathrow service. Etihad Airways is set to triple its weekly flights to Nairobi by December 2025, increasing from four to 14 flights per week.
Speaking at the reception of the inaugural Fly Dubai flight at JKIA, Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) CEO, Nicanor Sabula, encouraged travel agents to take advantage of the new flights and package destination Kenya to attract more travellers.
“I want to thank the government for its efforts to open up the Kenyan market to the world, through these new flights to the destination, this is the fifth airline this year only, it is commendable,” Sabula said.
Last year, the country saw the introduction of new scheduled airlines, led by AirAsia’s first-ever direct flight connecting Kuala Lumpur to Nairobi, with the flight operating four times a week.
Brussels Airlines also officially resumed direct flights from Brussels to Nairobi after a decade-long, increasing the number of European flights on the Kenyan route with six weekly flights.
Fly Dubai also started operations to Mombasa on January 17, 2024 with four-times-weekly service, which has since expanded to daily operations.
This expansion of airlines network positively impacted on the arrivals to Kenya as the country last year reported a record international tourist arrivals which closed at 2.4 million, up from 2.1 million in 2023.
This was a 14.6 per cent growth with inbound tourism earnings increasing to Sh452.2 billion in the year 2024 compared to Sh377.49 billion the previous year, a 19.8 per cent increase.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, in a speech read by Kenya Tourism Board’s acting CEO Allan Njoroge, termed the new route by Fly Dubai as a strategic bridge that positions Kenya at the center of global tourism and trade flows.
She noted that Dubai stands as one of the world's most important aviation and business hubs, connecting destinations across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.
“Through this new service, flydubai is bringing that connectivity closer to Kenya, allowing our business people and entrepreneurs easier access to international markets and offering seamless connections for travellers heading to and from Africa," CS Miano said.
She said the timing of the launch aligns with Kenya's growing appeal to Middle Eastern travellers, a market segment that has shown remarkable growth.
Last year, the Middle East registered 19,559 arrivals with the highest number of arrivals being received from Israel at 4,756 followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran at 2,709 and Yemen closely at 2,067. Arrivals from UAE were 1,350, Tourism Ministry data shows.
“Travellers from the Gulf region seek authenticity, adventure and high-quality experiences which Kenya offers in abundance. We look forward to welcoming more visitors who will discover our signature tourism offerings and the unmatched warmth of our people," Miano said, adding that the new service will enhance Kenya's pursuit of 5.5 million visitors by 2027.
Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith termed the maiden flight into Nairobi a major boost to trade and tourism for Kenya.
He said the additional flight will enhance connectivity to other destination and thereby increasing visitors into the two countries.
“Kenya has a lot of potential and with this new route, we are optimistic of increasing the frequency of flights to daily for both Mombasa and Nairobi,” Ghaith said.
The new route is expected to significantly boost tourism arrivals from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, a market that has demonstrated strong purchasing power and preference for Kenya's diverse attractions.
Visitors from the UAE and wider Gulf region have shown particular interest in safari experiences, coastal retreats and Nairobi's emerging position as a business and lifestyle destination.
Flydubai now serves 12 African destinations, reinforcing its commitment to connecting Dubai with key markets across the continent.
Kenya is banking on the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), aggressive marketing, enhanced tourism product diversification and adoption of digital platforms to drive up numbers.
