Nairobi, April 28th 2008… KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will give its slot time operation to Kenya Airways beginning April 29, 2008 to May 30, 2008. The extra operation by Kenya Airways is prompted by the fact that KLM is in the process of servicing their Boeing 747 fleet, which creates a shortage of aircraft availability within the KLM network. This means that Kenya Airways will now operate a total of 10 weekly flights to and from Amsterdam during this period.

KQ will operate the flights using a Boeing 777, with a KLM codeshare that is within the joint venture agreement. 4 Boeing 777s currently form part of Kenya Airways’23 plane fleet. Under this arrangement, departures from Amsterdam will be at 1015hrs, with arrival in Nairobi at 1935 hrs. Departures from Nairobi will be in the night at 2205 hrs and arrival in Amsterdam at 0640hrs.  Kenya Airways will continue to operate morning flights out of Nairobi in addition to this service. KLM expect to return to normal operations to and from Nairobi as from June 1, 2008.

KLM has also introduced 5 new destinations from its hub of Schiphol Airport direct to Panama in Latin America, Portland, and Dallas Fort-Worth in USA, Nantes in France and Linkoping in Sweden. “This is a very good opportunity to show our strength as partners and safeguard our passengers who are travelling to and from Nairobi and beyond.” Says T.J. Heukelom, Air France / KLM Commercial Director Eastern Africa

Kenya Airways and KLM have enjoyed a joint partnership for over 12 years. Kenya Airways has brought to this partnership, its extensive connectivity across the African continent. KLM passengers can now access the over 30 African destinations which KQ flies to. KQ passengers can also in turn be able to fly into the many destinations that KLM and Skyteam airlines fly into.