In tit-for-tat, Zambia suspends Kenya Airways flights over country’s denial of access to Zambia Airways

The Zambian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced the suspension of all Kenya Airways flights into Lusaka, following the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority’s (KCAA) decision to deny Zambia Airways access to Nairobi.

In a letter dated October 2, 2024, CAA Director General Captain, Derrick Luembe, stated that the suspension would take effect at 21:59 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on October 8, 2024.

Luembe explained that Zambia Airways, through the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, had applied for scheduled flights from Lusaka to Nairobi.

While the KCAA initially granted Zambia Airways a Foreign Operators Permit, authorization to operate flights into Nairobi using a wet-leased Boeing 737-700 was refused.

“The Zambian CAA appealed to the KCAA to reconsider their decision and allow Zambia Airways (2014) Limited to fly into Nairobi with the wet-leased B737-700 aircraft,” Luembe said.

However, the KCAA maintained its position, denying authorization.

Efforts by the Zambian government to resolve the issue diplomatically also failed.

Luembe noted that the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had engaged the Kenyan authorities on several occasions, including a meeting with the Kenyan Acting High Commissioner to Zambia on September 12, 2024. Despite submitting all necessary documentation, Zambia received no response.

On October 1, 2024, Luembe reached out to the KCAA again via email and WhatsApp, but there was still no response.

“Given the lack of reciprocity and the ongoing refusal to grant Zambia Airways access to Nairobi, I regret to inform you that all Kenya Airways flights into Zambia are hereby suspended,” Luembe concluded.

The suspension remains in place until further notice, as Zambia seeks a resolution to the matter.

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