NAIROBI, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Airways said Friday it has received a final order from the United States of America Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch direct flights.
Kenya Airways Commercial Director Vincent Coste said the order is part of the process to commence flights to the U.S. which is still ongoing.
"This approval by the DOT has been achieved thanks to the hard work of great individuals within all the departments of KQ (Kenya Airways)," Coste said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
"I am confident that our team will complete the next milestones with the same success and allow us to operate non-stop flights to the U.S. in 2018," he added.
The recent approval grants the airline permission to fly both passengers and cargo and is part of the many approval stages that are expected to be concluded soon.
The Kenyan carrier is working with both the Kenyan Ministry of Transport and the U.S. authorities to ensure all requirements are met.
The move comes after Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was awarded Category One security and safety status in February.
The Kenyan carrier is seeking "economic authority" to partner with an American airline through code-sharing as well as to have independent flights.
