Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) initiated plans to lower air tickets in six East African Community countries.
The plans to lower air tickets were revealed during a joint meeting with Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency Board on Wednesday, March 1.
In a meeting which was chaired by East African Community Secretary General Peter Mathuki, the aviation body noted that it had laid out plans to lower regional airfare.
The countries under the East African Community set to benefit if the plan is implemented include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
Besides lowering air tickets, KCAA also deliberated on plans to re-evaluate regulations and policies guiding the aviation sector in East African Community member states.
The aviation bosses proposed harmonising the rules to allow the seamless movement of passengers and goods from one country to another.
Additionally, the aviation bosses revealed plans to increase air connectivity by setting up standard structures and infrastructure in the regional states.
“They deliberated on the status of liberalization of air transport services in the region, set to increase connectivity and reduce the cost of air fare and harmonisation of civil aviation rules and regulations among other issues,” East African Community read in part.
Airline tickets in East African Communities range from Ksh20,000 to Ksh60,000, depending on the airline.
The cost further varies depending on the class and services offered inside a plane.
The move is expected to increase air traffic in member states. Further, it is expected to spur trade and tourism in the region.
Kenya’s bid to revive tourism came after Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza further disclosed plans to use influencers for marketing the country.
"We have moved into recruiting ambassadors for tourism in this country. We have realized that since the youth are 65 per cent of the population we will use young ambassadors, the Miss tourism and Miss world," she stated
"We are also going a notch higher to reach our influencers and heroes in the country like Eliud Kipchoge and I have also been trying to reach out to Lupita and I think we are at some engagement and I belive that soon she will come on board to market Kenya,” Malonza added.
