Kenyan airlines realize benefits in South Sudan

August 27, 2007 (NAIROBI) — Kenyan aviation companies are reaping huge benefits from the opening up of southern Sudan following the return of peace in the region.

The airlines are among Kenyan businesses venturing into southern Sudan led by commercial banks and construction companies, the Kenyan Business Daily reported.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said response to the call for local aviators to venture into southern Sudan has been overwhelming.

“There has been an increase of both cargo and passenger flights to cater for the growing southern Sudan,” said Ms Mercy Awori of the transport office at KCAA. She added that previously there was only one airline operator, but now there are more than five regular flights to the region.

Among the firms that have entered Sudan include Jetlink Express, Delta connections, African airliners, 748 Air Services, Astral Aviation, Flight Path Aviation, ALS Ltd and Marsland.

Safari Express flies to southern Sudan on charter basis only and Kenya Airways has scheduled flights directly to Khartoum.

There are also Sudanese airlines that have been making regular flights into Kenya.

Ms Jackie Okutoi, Jetlink Express’s marketing and communications manager, said the new found peace in Sudan has made the country to become a new frontier for investments.

Investors and humanitarian workers have contributed to the growth of airline business in the area.

Jetlink Express makes six flights a week to Sudan from Monday to Saturday.

The biggest difficulty affecting the route is the high taxes the country charges that eat into the gains made.

“Taxes at the airport and by the government are a bit high.

They are almost two times what we have here in Kenya,” she said.

Ms Awori noted that despite the improved state of affairs for the aviation industry, processing of customs documents takes long.

“Since southern and northern Sudan continues to operate as different states, it has been difficult to double drop cargo in Juba and the remaining in Khartoum,” said Ms Awori.

This has partly been blamed on existing government policy which has not yet been reviewed to facilitate new operations in southern Sudan.

Handling facilities are still few with most operators doing their own handling. There has also been a need to develop storage facilities for cargo.

The Sudanese Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Majok Guandong, said aviation between Kenya and Sudan is doing very well.

“Aviation between Kenya and Sudan is very smooth and we now have six flights in a week to Sudan,” said Mr Majok. The flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport connect to Juba, Rumbek and Khartoum.

He said that there has been increased traffic as more Kenyan business people take advantage of available business opportunities in Kenya.

“A lot of Kenyans are investing in businesses there and many Kenyan technicians are helping to build capacity of the southern Sudan,” said the ambassador.

The Sudanese ambassador urged more Kenyan businesses to move into the region and develop services that are needed in the region.

(Business Daily)