Delta Air Lines and Kenya Airways Expand Strategic Partnership
Delta Air Lines and Kenya Airways PLC have announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to include Kenya Airways’ nonstop Nairobi-to-New York service. The partnership will be effective from August 5, 2023. This expansion offers customers more travel options within the U.S. and Africa, with 31 additional single connect destinations in Africa and another 57 across the U.S. and Canada.
Benefits for SkyMiles and Asante Rewards Members
Delta SkyMiles members and Kenya Airways’ Asante Rewards members will benefit from this enhanced partnership by earning miles on the Nairobi-to-New York route. Tickets can be purchased from delta.com and other trade and corporate channels, including travel agencies.
Improving Travel Options between North America and Africa
The expanded partnership comes at a time of increased demand for travel between North America and Africa. Alain Bellemare, Delta’s President of International, stated, “Expanding our strategic partnership with Kenya Airways offers our customers more travel options as well as supports our priority to deepen our presence across the African continent.”
Enhanced Connectivity and Seamless Travel Experience
Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways PLC CEO, highlighted that this expansion will enhance connectivity between Africa and the U.S. He emphasized that the expansion of the codeshare is historic as it allows Kenya Airways to expand its footprint in the U.S. and offer seamless connectivity on a single ticket for travelers visiting Africa for business, leisure, or studies. The expansion also provides seamless connectivity to those visiting Kenya Airways’ hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
Flight Operations and Services
Currently, Kenya Airways offers daily flights from Nairobi to the U.S. via JFK airport in New York. Delta has been operating nonstop service between Africa and the United States since 2006, with flights from Accra, Cape Town, Dakar, Johannesburg, and Lagos.