Nairobi-Rome flight scrapped

04 Apr, 2012

Kenya Airways (KQ) has scrapped its direct Rome-Nairobi flights, due to low passenger numbers.

KQ launched the service in 2010 and operated three flights weekly to Rome on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

The direct service was seen as crucial to providing a steady supply of Italian tourists to the coastal town of Malindi, to which KQ operates six weekly flights.

The carrier said that it was keen on reopening the route should it became commercially viable.

KQ previously operated flights to other European capitals such as Copenhagen and Stockholm but pulled out due to competition and falling passenger volume.

Italy is Kenya's third largest tourist source market, after the US and Britain.