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KQ to fly back Kenyans in Britain, India, China

KQ cleared to repatriate Kenyans who were stranded abroad
Kenya Airways (KQ) plans to fly back Kenyans stuck in London, Mumbai and Guangzhou in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that has grounded airlines across the world.
The chartered flights, scheduled to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi between May 4-8, will only take off with Kenyans who have taken a coronavirus test.
The airline will carry passengers on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with a capacity of up to 335 passengers.
“London flight is scheduled for May 4 while Mumbai and Guangzhou flights will leave on May 7 and May 8 respectively,” the airline told the Daily Nation yesterday.
The airline further indicated that passengers from London would pay Sh53,495 ($500) for a one-way ticket while those stranded in Mumbai and Guahzhou will pay Sh46,005 ($430) and Sh80,242 ($750).
The national carrier, however, declined to disclose the time the flights would depart London, Mumbai and Guangzhou, terming it a security matter.
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“In terms of the time of departure and arrival, we cannot share this for security reasons,” said KQ.
The plans by the airline to repatriate Kenyans comes barely a few days after the carrier charged expatriates in Kenya up to three times normal ticket prices to return to their home countries on a chartered flight.
COVID-19 TESTS
The airline was charging Ksh187,692 ($1,876) for the one-way ticket including testing for Covid-19 at Lancet laboratory in Nairobi.
Normally, a ticket from Nairobi to London and back during this time of the year would start at Sh96,430 ($964) or about Sh48,215 ($482) for a one-way ticket.
KQ chief executive Allan Kilavuka in a separate interview told the Nation that the fares are within a reasonable range because the airline had to meet other costs.
“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,” he said then.

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