Kenya ends Dubai travel ban opening door to vaccinated tourists
On Monday, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority ended a pandemic travel ban that was in place for more than two weeks, a relief for the tourism industry and for families that the rules have separated since the crisis began.
The ban, put in place by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), banned all flights from Kenya on December 20, claiming several passengers arriving from Nairobi tested positive for Covid-19, yet they had certificates issued in Kenya showing they were negative.
In response, Kenya decided to implement its retaliatory ban on all passenger flights from the Emirates for two weeks after both nations failed to reach a consensus over the ban.
Now, visitors can fly into Kenya with proof of full Covid-19 vaccination, though there are exemptions for travellers under age 18.
“Inbound and transit passenger flights from UAE are suspended for a period of seven days. We are doing this to reciprocate a ban on Kenyan passenger flights to UAE,” Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) director-general Gilbert Kibe told the Business Daily that the ban was lifted Monday midnight, offering a major relief to hundreds of travellers between the two destinations.
“Kenya shall do a NOTAM lifting the suspension of flights to and from UAE from midnight tonight (Monday),’’ he added.
Airline executives have said bookings have surged since the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said it would lift the restrictions.
