Kenya Airways launches a direct flight to Amsterdam

In a historic moment for Kenya’s aviation industry, Kenya Airways (KQ) has launched its first international flight using sustainable aviation fuel.

The flight, from Nairobi to Amsterdam, marks a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector. Emilia Rao, Director General of Kenya Civil Aviation Authority spoke passionately about the importance of this landmark occasion:

“We are witnessing the launch of a Nairobi KQ flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam operated on sustainable aviation fuel. This is a historic and momentous occasion in Kenya’s aviation history. The Civil Aviation industry in Kenya is significantly important to the country’s first implementation and status as one of Africa’s leading aviation, of course,” Emilia said.

Emilia went on to explain that Kenya has made considerable efforts to ensure that the aviation industry grows sustainably by implementing clear standards and preventive practices for environmental protection. He thanked KQ for their role in this journey and for being part of the effort towards reducing carbon emissions from both domestic and international aviation.

Additionally, Alex Thetari, the Managing Director of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority also expressed his delight about the launch of this innovative flight. He emphasized the critical role that aviation plays in the economic development of the country while acknowledging the huge impact this industry has on the environment.

“The costs of the aviation industry have a significant impact on the environment and contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. This affects sustainable development and social relations, especially in Africa. Despite this, aviation continues to provide opportunities for transportation,” Thetari explained.

Thetari explained that sustainable aviation is a critical solution to reducing the environmental impact of the aviation industry. He expressed Kenya’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 and mentioned several initiatives that the country is implementing to achieve this goal.

The two, Rao and Thetari stressed the importance of collaborative efforts towards environmental sustainability. They also praised the launch of the first international flight using sustainable aviation fuel and encouraged more airlines to follow in KQ’s footsteps.

This historic flight marks a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector and is just the beginning of an exciting new era for sustainable aviation in Kenya and beyond. “We only have this environment (so) let us work together collaboratively to continually support all environmental initiatives on the continent and the world,” Rao said.