KENYA AIRWAYS GETS MALAWI GOVERNMENT APPROVAL TO FLY INTO BLANTYRE

Kenya Airways has received approval from the Government of the Republic of Malawi to begin flying into Chileka Airport in Blantyre effective June 3, 2013. In a letter to the airline from Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Government of Malawi, Moffat Chitimbe, Kenya Airways was also given approval to resume 5th Freedom Traffic Rights on the Lilongwe-Lusaka sector. “I am pleased to convey Government approval for your operations into Chileka Airport, Blantyre, and the exercise of 5th Freedom Traffic Rights on the Lilongwe-Lusaka sector effective 3rd June, 2013,” read the letter in part. The approval of the 5th Freedom Traffic Rights follows an MOU signed between the Kenya and Malawi governments in 2008 which allows collaborative arrangements between designated carriers of both countries for their mutual benefit. Currently Malawi has no national carrier so Kenya Airways will be the sole operator in the meantime.