NAIROBI (AFP) — US carrier Delta Air Lines on Tuesday announced it was cancelling a new direct link between the Kenya capital Nairobi and Atlanta a day before its scheduled launch.
"Delta Air Lines direct flights from Nairobi to Atlanta have been postponed indefinitely due to lack of Transport Security Administration (TSA) and US Government approval," a statement from the airline's PR firm in Kenya said.
"The safety of Delta's passengers and crew is Delta's number one priority," said Delta Air Lines, one of the world's largest commercial carriers.
The statement did not further elaborate on the reasons for the last-minute cancellation of the new air link, which was still being advertised in newspapers on Tuesday and was reportedly fully booked for weeks.
The Atlanta-based carrier is the only US airline to fly its own planes to Africa and was planning to launch flights to other destinations on the continent later this year.
The Kenyan government expressed its surprise at the eleventh-hour postponement.
"The Delta Air Lines flight that was meant to arrive in Kenya tomorrow after a stop over in Dakar, Senegal, has unfortunately been postponed. The reasons for the postponement by Delta are still not very clear," government spokesman Alfred Mutua said in a statement.
"The government of Kenya has complied with all the additional security measures requested by Delta and Nairobi airports' security is excellent," he added.
"Delta Air Lines direct flights from Nairobi to Atlanta have been postponed indefinitely due to lack of Transport Security Administration (TSA) and US Government approval," a statement from the airline's PR firm in Kenya said.
"The safety of Delta's passengers and crew is Delta's number one priority," said Delta Air Lines, one of the world's largest commercial carriers.
The statement did not further elaborate on the reasons for the last-minute cancellation of the new air link, which was still being advertised in newspapers on Tuesday and was reportedly fully booked for weeks.
The Atlanta-based carrier is the only US airline to fly its own planes to Africa and was planning to launch flights to other destinations on the continent later this year.
The Kenyan government expressed its surprise at the eleventh-hour postponement.
"The Delta Air Lines flight that was meant to arrive in Kenya tomorrow after a stop over in Dakar, Senegal, has unfortunately been postponed. The reasons for the postponement by Delta are still not very clear," government spokesman Alfred Mutua said in a statement.
"The government of Kenya has complied with all the additional security measures requested by Delta and Nairobi airports' security is excellent," he added.
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