National carrier Kenya Airways on Sunday, April 16, notified its customers of a one-hour delay for all flights from Nairbi to Europe.
KQ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu explained that the delay was to due to longer flight routes following the civil unrest in Sudan.
Thairu added that flights had to take alternative routes to ensure the safety of their passengers and crew.
"The Sudanese Civil Aviation authorities have banned flights through their airspace.
"We wish to inform our customers that we have adjusted the schedules for our flights to and from Europe to cater for the rerouting of these flights," the customer update read in part.
Meanwhile, KQ announced that all flights to Sudan's capital, Khartoum, remained suspended until further notice.
Customers who had been affected by the flight updates were asked to reach out to the customer service centre via phone, Whatsapp, and e-mail.
"We continue to monitor and will share updates as soon as we have more information. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused," Thairu stated.
The update fell within 24 hours of banning flights into and out of Khartoum following the capture of the airport.
Earlier, a commercial plane from Greece that had made a stopover in Sudan before proceeding to Nairobi was directed back to Athens.
A representative from the airline noted that the decision was for safety measures since the Sudanese airspace was deemed unsafe.
Chaos broke out in the country following the power struggles between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to media reports, at least 50 people lost their lives. Meanwhile, the African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat called for dialogue between the two warring parties.
On Sunday, April 16, President William Ruto convened Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Head of States meeting to discuss the situation in Khartoum.
