The Government has lifted the ban that had been imposed on all inbound and transit passenger flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Speaking to Capital Fm News, the Kenya Aviation Authority Director General Mr Gilbert Kibe noted that the flight ban which had been imposed two weeks ago was lifted on Monday 24th January.
“Kenya shall do a NOTAM lifting the suspension of flights to and from the UAE from midnight tonight (Monday 24th),” said Mr Kibe. However according to the Director the reason for lifting of the suspension is not for public consumption.
Kenya had been forced to impose the ban on all passenger flights in retaliation to the move by Dubai to do the same to Kenyan flights. The reason for this move was over the claims of fake COVID-19 tests certificates issued. The ban on UAE flights came a few days after UAE extended the Kenyan flight Ban. This was after it established that passengers coming from Nairobi tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in the Middle East despite issuing negative test results certificates.
The ban however did not affect cargo flights between the two nations. Mr Kibe also noted that the UAE is yet to lift the ban on Kenyan Flights but is soon expected to do the same. There had been several complaints over the issuing of fake COVID-19 test certificates for travel.