The American Embassy in Nairobi has opened a new window for its citizens to leave the country after coronavirus cases got to 25 on Tuesday.
The embassy through a statement posted on its website and Twitter handle said that Kenya Airways has agreed to offer US citizens a direct flight from Nairobi to New York.
“Kenyan Airways has indicated it will offer a flight for U.S. citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents departing JKIA on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at 2100 hours, provided it can sell all the seats on this flight. This will be a direct flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, NY,” read part of the statement.
Tickets for the economy class will cost “$3350, and the price of a business class ticket will be $4000.”
Kenya will suspend all international flights on Wednesday midnight in a move geared towards containing the fast-rising cases of coronavirus in the country.
Cognizant of this, the embassy noted that “We understand from the Kenyan government that there are no plans for flights after midnight tonight. If you wish to depart Kenya, this will be your last opportunity for an indefinite period of time.”
The US embassy shared contact details – +254 741 131 526 , +254 203 274 747, +254 711 024 647, +254 741 984 764 – which her citizens can call in case they need assistance with the flight aramgements.
This comes as KQ on Tuesday offered a free one-way ticket from New York To Nairobi ahead of international flights suspension on Wednesday.
Ordinarily, a one-way flight ticket from New York’s JFK Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi will go between Sh98,825 to Sh100,000.
KQ in a statement on Tuesday reckoned ” As our last flight departs JFK today, we are offering one-way complimentary tickets to Nairobi, to Kenyan citizens in urgent need. Please contact our team on +1(866)5369224 for more information.”
The airline added that all passengers will be screened for COVID-19 as a measure of compliance with a set of new orders given by the Ministry of Health.
“All passengers will be subjected to entry/screening procedures instituted by the MOH,” added KQ.
