Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Etihad and Delta soon to each service Kenya?

Interesting news for FTers, those with an interest in Africa and those with an interest in leaving.

It appears Delta will operate soon and Etihad has also sought approval. This is reportedly the first US direct flight since Pan Am bust.

Carriers scramble for share of Kenya skies (http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Business/biz3102200810.htm) [The East African]

Kenyan air travel is headed for a major realignment with the entry into the market of two major airlines — Delta Airways of US and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates — over the next two months.
The corporate affairs manager at the Civil Aviation Board, Mutia Mwandikwa, told The EastAfrican that Delta Airways will be flying Nairobi-Miami with stopovers in Lagos and Accra for travellers from the West African region. He said that Delta will be starting off with two weekly flights.

Delta Airways’ entry will provide West Africans with a direct flight to the US.

Both Delta and Etihad have conducted due diligence surveys and we are planning a public committee hearing soon to conclude their application,” said Mr Mwandikwa.

The Delta one is pretty interesting, since there've been direct flights to West Africa for a while (Dakar and more recently Accra and/or Lagos). Routing through something other than Dakar keeps it anglophone! :)

Unfortunately, due to the "equatorial bulge," unless you're in the Southeast or Texas, it's probably shorter to just take a "great circle" route through AMS!

During the political crisis in Kenya, Delta announced that the launch of its Nairobi service would be delayed until December 2008. Has that changed?

During the political crisis in Kenya, Delta announced that the launch of its Nairobi service would be delayed until December 2008. Has that changed?

After the delay announcement, I could still find DKR-NBO in the December schedule but now there's nothing. Does that mean it's been canceled altogether?

The quote from the Govt person above must be a misprint, no?

The quote from the Govt person above must be a misprint, no?

Looks like it... or Mutia Mwandikwa's grasp of southeastern US geography is about as good as the typical American's grasp of east African geography. ;)