Gulf Air plans return to Nairobi

(eTN) – A regular aviation source in Nairobi has confirmed that Gulf Air is planning to return to Kenya by mid-year, apparently with an initial four flights a week.

(eTN) – A regular aviation source in Nairobi has confirmed that Gulf Air is planning to return to Kenya by mid-year, apparently with an initial four flights a week. The same source also confirmed that the airline will use an Airbus A320 with a dual configuration of business and economy class.

Gulf used to fly to all East African countries but was progressively pushed to the wall in terms of market dominance, when other airlines came to the region in force. At the same time, the erstwhile shareholders of Gulf Air progressively withdrew from the airline to form their own national carriers.

Considering the number of frequencies Emirates and Qatar Airways are already operating from Nairobi to the Gulf, the presence of Oman Air, and, of course, the flights by Kenya Airways, it remains to be seen if a four flights a week strategy will yield the results Gulf is hoping for. Air Arabia only recently announced they would go daily, too, making it a challenge for the returnee to make a success out of their new route.

In a related development, it could not be confirmed at short notice if Gulf also has plans to return to Entebbe and Dar es Salaam, and with which airlines in the region they intend to sign commercial agreements to feed and de-feed to their Nairobi flights.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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