With no less than three new direct air links between the U.S. and Africa, tour operators have predicted Africa will be a hot destination for travelers from the States in the coming year.
Ethiopian Airways introduced a flight to Chicago in June, and Kenya Airways and RwandAir are in the process of launching flights to New York later this year.
Kenya Airways’ inaugural flight to New York is set for Oct. 28. The service will be the fastest connection from East Africa to New York, with a 15-hour duration eastbound and 14 hours westbound.
(Kenya Airways employees have threatened to go on strike unless a pay deal is agreed by this Sunday, Oct. 28. But transport cabinet secretary James Macharia has reassured the public that a strike will not affect the inaugural flight to New York.)
Meanwhile, RwandAir said it is in the final stage of launching a direct operation to New York. The airline recently received the nod to fly direct to the U.S. as well as for the airline to operate through a code-share agreement. Although there is no specific date yet, a spokesperson for the airline promised the carrier’s New York operation launch date would be announced soon.
“We are very pleased with the increased air access between the U.S. and Africa, as this will not only offer more convenience but also more choice for both corporate and leisure travelers,” said Henk Graaff, managing director at SW Africa. “New air routes open up trade opportunities and with that comes more travel, both business and leisure. For time-sensitive business travelers, direct routes like these being introduced are essential."
“Air access is absolutely vital. Linking hubs is destined to allow for the easy combination of countries and experiences so travel designers have a greater ability to create diverse and balanced itineraries,” said Darren Humphreys, owner of TravelSommelier, a Safari Pros member.
“I especially feel the future of air access and the routes that the major carriers schedule is essential to the livelihood of African travel for the North American market. The soon-to-launch direct Kenyan Airways flight from New York [JFK] to Nairobi changes everything in eastern Africa for us. … Let’s see what happens next,” said Brennan Rimer, founding partner of Journeys Unforgettable, Africa & Beyond.