(Mombasa) – After a six year break, Tui Fly, a leading European charter airline, has resumed its flights to Mombasa, Kenya, marking a positive step for the country’s tourism sector. The airline, a subsidiary of Tui Group—an international leisure, travel, and tourism company—stopped flying into Mombasa in late 2019, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, Tui Fly reintroduced a regular flight schedule to Mombasa, with two flights per week expected to bring in tourists primarily from Europe. Tui Fly Captain Robert Gijsbertse expressed the airline’s confidence in Mombasa as a key destination for tourists, especially for the Dutch market, describing Kenya as a place that offers a mix of adventure, relaxation, scenic game parks, pristine beaches, and excellent hospitality services. The airline will be using a Boeing 787 aircraft for this route.
Captain Gijsbertse highlighted that this first flight’s arrival is a significant move and sets the stage for future cooperation to maximize Mombasa’s tourism potential. He noted that this would enhance not only packaged holiday options but also other services like cargo transport and seat-only bookings.
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Flight Resumption | After six-year hiatus |
| Main Passengers | Primarily from Europe |
| Aircraft Used | Boeing 787 |
| Flights Per Week | Two |
| Main Destination | Mombasa International Airport |
Kenya Airports Authority’s Coast regional manager, Abel Gogo, expressed the airport’s excitement to receive Tui Fly flights again. He credited the airline’s return to the efforts of national and county governments along with tourism stakeholders who have worked collaboratively to bring Tui Fly back to Mombasa.
Mohammed Osman, Mombasa County’s tourism executive, welcomed the return of Tui Fly, stating it aligned with the county’s advocacy for an open sky policy, which allows more international airlines to operate in Mombasa. He mentioned that they are optimistic about seeing other airlines, such as Turkish Airlines, also resuming operations in the near future, envisioning a robust recovery for Mombasa’s tourism sector.
Currently, Mombasa International Airport receives around 10% of Kenya’s two million annual international visitors. However, Osman hopes that with the open sky policy in place, Mombasa’s airport could increase its share to 20-30% of the total international tourist arrivals in Kenya.