Virgin Atlantic to launch Flights between Heathrow and Nairobi

Virgin Atlantic is to launch daily services between Heathrow and Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, from 1 June 2007. The services will be operated by an Airbus A340-300 aircraft with 240 seats onboard -34 Upper Class, 35 Premium Economy and 171 Economy.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, said, “Nairobi is Virgin Atlantic’s fourth service to the African continent and it is expanding at a vast rate. Passenger numbers have doubled over the past five years and we predict its popularity will continue to grow in the years to come.

“Around 500,000 people fly to Nairobi each year to enjoy the beautiful Kenyan scenery and wildlife it has to offer at its outstanding game reserves with large numbers of passengers also flying to and from America, via London. It is also the leading hub for east Africa providing a gateway for the whole of East Africa and the India Ocean and Nairobi is an important city in its own right with many international institutions based there.”

The flights from Heathrow will depart at 19:15 and will arrive in Nairobi the following day at 06:05. Return flights from Nairobi depart at 08:20 from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and will arrive at 14:55 into London Heathrow Airport.

Kenya’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Madame Rebecca Nabutola said, “Virgin Atlantic is an airline we have actively pursued for the past few years to begin flights to Kenya and we are overjoyed with their decision to add Nairobi to their route schedule. Virgin Atlantic’s quality, high standards and distinction as one of the world’s premier airlines is what we have been pursuing and we know that they will build not only the visitor travel to Kenya but also the business travel sector from the UK and North America.”

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