Indian LCC IndiGo has firmed plans for its first route to Africa. The airline has opened bookings for nonstop service between Mumbai and Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
Service to Nairobi will commence on Aug. 5, operating daily. The city will become the 27th international and 105th overall destination in the airline’s network.
IndiGo Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra says the route will strengthen bilateral ties between India and Kenya, adding, “With India emerging as Kenya's third-largest trading partner and witnessing increased investments, this new air route will further enhance our economic ties, too.”
IndiGo signaled its intention to begin flights from Mumbai to Nairobi earlier this month, alongside a route to Jakarta, Indonesia. Additionally, the LCC will be opening four routes from New Delhi, connecting the city with Tbilisi, Georgia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Kenya Tourism Board CEO John Chirchir says IndiGo's launch represents “a significant milestone” in efforts to increase the number of visitors from India.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, there are three nonstop routes linking India and Kenya at present. Kenya Airways serves Mumbai-Nairobi twice a day; Air India connects New Delhi and Nairobi three times per week; and Rwandair links Mumbai and Mombasa as part of a Mumbai-Mombasa-Kigali routing.
IndiGo’s latest international expansion comes a week after the carrier firmed a “landmark” order for 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft, believed to be the largest-ever single purchase agreement.
The deal takes the number of Airbus aircraft on order by the LCC to nearly 1,000. The airline currently operates a fleet of about 300 aircraft and has an existing order for 480 aircraft to be delivered before the end of the decade.
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