Britain's second largest airline, Virgin Atlantic Airways, announced here Monday it would launch daily flights between Nairobi and Heathrow from June 2 this year. The airline's chairman Sir Richard Branson said the Nairobi- London route will be the airline's fourth service to the African continent and would bring in a quarter million more visitors to the region in the first 12 months of operation.

 

"Nairobi is Virgin Atlantic's fourth service to the African continent and we predict its popularity will continue to grow in the years to come with Virgin Atlantic's daily services offering passengers more flexibility and value for money," Branson told a news conference in Nairobi. "Currently around half a million people fly each year on the London-Nairobi route, including large numbers of traveling to and from the United States via London. It is also the leading hub for East Africa providing a gateway for the whole of East Africa and the India Ocean," he said.

 

"Virgin is looking forward to launching our flights in June and looks forward to seeing many Kenyans onboard, taking advantage of our great value fares."

 

Virgin Atlantic, which serves the world's major cities with a reputation for quality and innovative product development, will operate a 240-seater Airbus 340-300 offering 34 upper class, 35 premium economy seats and 171 economy on its daily flights from Heathrow to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

 

The flights from Nairobi would depart at 08:20 and arrive at 14: 55 into London Heathrow Airport, return flights will depart from Heathrow at 19:15 and will arrive in Nairobi the following day at 06:05. "With the launch of services Virgin Atlantic will bring in tourists who will add around 100 million U.S. dollars a year to Kenya's tourist industry, with an impact of up to three times that amount on the broader Kenyan economy. We also aim to carry nearly 100 million dollars worth of Kenyan agricultural exports each year," said Branson. The airline which has been a bitter rival of British Airways since its inception 21 years ago, currently flies to 27 destinations worldwide with route launches from London to Chicago in April and Mauritius in October 2007. "The competition for places will be tough, but we want the very best for our customers and there is a great sense of team when you join Virgin. I believe the Nairobi team will deliver that extra magic touch," said Mike Higgins, Regional Manager for Africa.

 

The entry of the Virgin Atlantic is expected to offer stiff competition from British Airways and the local national carrier, Kenya Airways among other Asian airlines.

 

Sources in the travel industry say they are anticipating a price war by Virgin Atlantic, famed for its rock bottom prices and dubbed "the people's airline," as it seeks to break the dominance of Kenya Airways and British Airways, the only two airlines currently operating direct daily flights on the Nairobi-London route.

 

Other airlines operating the Nairobi-London route are Swiss Air, Sabena, South African Airways, Ethiopian Airways and Qatar through their home bases.

 

Virgin has had to fight fierce pricing battles with British Airways over control of Britain's travel market and the war is expected to spill over into Kenya.

 

Currently, Kenya Airways and British Airways are charging 699 dollars exclusive of taxes, with a special promotion fare of 449 dollars minus taxes.

 

Sabena and Swiss Air currently offer the cheapest rate on the route, but both are indirect flights through Brussels and Zurich respectively.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2007)