Kenya Airways eye more Malawian routes

Kenyan Airways says it is eyeing further consolidation of its Malawian market amidst emergence of local competition from the new national airline.

Newly launched Malawian Airline has emerged from the ashes of the former Air Malawi Limited which closed shop years ago to provide competition to established airlines trading on the Malawi route and other regional routes but the company says it remains confident of its competitiveness.

The airline’s general manager, Dirk Buitelaar, made the remarks in Lilongwe when the airline awarded its local partners in the traveling agencies.

“Our presence here today is a major milestone for Kenya Airways, KLM and for our strategic partnership which started in 1996. Now 18 years later, we can report on a resounding success. By linking into each other’s international networks we are able to offer our customers a more attractive product virtually covering the whole world,” said Buitelaar.

He said connecting international networks of various players in the aviation and tourism sectors were crucial to success in the aviation business.

“The airline industry is crucial to economic growth and today we are marking and celebrating your contribution towards this goal,” he added.

Principal Secretary for Transport Rex Chiluzi said government welcomes growing competition in the aviation sector.

“Government is very supportive on the aspect of aviation industry development. You can see through the coming of the Malawian airline that government wants to boast the industry. Currently a government we are trying to explore more routes such as the new one in Botswana shortly we will apply for more routes,” said Chiluzi.

Apart from Malawian Airlines and Kenya Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian Airways are the other big players on the Malawian route.