Kenya Airways has firmly distanced itself from a fake circular doing rounds on social media, purportedly responding to President William Ruto’s remarks about the costs of traveling to the United States. The airline categorically stated that the circular did not originate from them and that any such claims are entirely false.
The misleading circular suggested that Kenya Airways had responded to the President’s comments regarding the cost-effectiveness of chartering a private jet over boarding a Kenya Airways plane for his recent trip to the US. The national carrier clarified that these statements are fabricated and not the airline’s official communication.
This came shortly after President William Ruto, who traveled to the US on an A6-RJU royal jet, addressed the public’s spending concerns on X (formerly Twitter). In his statement, President Ruto acknowledged the scrutiny over his transportation choice and explained that the decision was made with careful consideration of state resources.
“Fellow Kenyans, I have noted concerns about my mode of transport to the USA. As a responsible steward of public resources and in keeping with my determination for us to live within our means and that I should lead from the front in so doing, the cost was less than traveling on KQ,” Ruto stated.
However, the President did not disclose the specific costs associated with the chartered jet or the potential expenses of using a Kenya Airways flight.
The Africa’s Leading Airline (as announced by the World Travel Awards) announced the beginning of daily direct flights between Kenya and the USA’s city of New York starting October 2018. These flights which complete an essential piece for Kenya Airways’ network are a step in the right direction for the airline that already serves Africa, Europe, Middle-East, Indian sub-continent and Asia.
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The trans-Atlantic flights between Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York lasts about 15 hours eastbound and 14 hours westbound on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner taking a maximum of 234 passengers.
The flights depart daily, leaving Nairobi’s JKIA airport at around 23:25 and arrive at New York JFK’s airport at 06:25 the following day.
