Kenya Airways has confirmed its first departure to its Nairobi hub as 3 July, operating three times a week. Added to the carrier’s Heathrow schedule, it means the airline will serve the UK with 10 flights a week.
Kenya Airways’ connections through Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International airport include Mombasa, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and Johannesburg.
Flights from Kenya will be overnight, with an early morning arrival at Gatwick. Departures from London will be mid-morning or lunchtime.
The airline’s chief executive, Allan Kilavuka, said: “This is just the beginning of our expansion plans for the UK market.”
"We are excited to add Gatwick airport to our expansive network as it means that KQ guests now have more options in and out of the UK and a convenient schedule that suits their travel preferences.”
Ahead of this, another new Gatwick carrier, Bahrain’s Gulf Air, launches flights on 30 March, also with three services a week.
The Boeing 787 service will feature a business cabin of 26 seats.
Flights will depart Bahrain at 01.45, arriving at Gatwick at 06.55. The departure from Gatwick is at 11.25, arriving in Bahrain at 20.00.
Attracting more long-haul carriers using bigger aircraft pushed Gatwick’s 2024 passenger numbers to 43.2 million, up 5.7%.
Gatwick said: “The successful year was driven by significant growth in the choice of airlines and destinations with 57 airlines serving the airport – more than ever before.”
Gatwick served 53 long-haul routes in 2024, including new routes to Singapore, Beijing and Guangzhou in China; Baku, Azerbaijan, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
A decision on whether to approve regular use of Gatwick’s stand-by runway will be made in the autumn.
