Kenya airways has announced suspension of passenger flights to Mogadishu. According to a statement issued by the airline, it will suspend passenger flights to Mogadishu from Oct 14. The airline cited “operational challenges” behind this decision.
“Careful analysis and consideration in the best interest of the airline in the prevailing business environment” led to this decision, the Airline said. In June FlyDubai stopped all flights to Mogadishu. In July EgyptAir entered Somali market with twice a week flights between Cairo and Mogadishu. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines already have sizeable market share in Somalia.
Aviation officials believe the decision was forced by market conditions after stiff competition from several low-cost, fixable Somali airline companies operating in the same route. Somali airline companies offer cheap, and flexible booking, cancellations with almost no penalties and the chance to buy one-way tickets as they frequently fly between Somalia and Kenya.
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