Kenya Airways has had to cancel its direct flights between Lilongwe, Malawi, and Lusaka, Zambia, after the Malawi government cancelled the airline’s 5th freedom rights, eTurboNews reported.
According to the report, as of March 1, direct flights between Malawi and Zambia will not be operated by Kenya Airways. Kenya Airways is currently offering services between Lilongwe and Lusaka via its hub in Nairobi, Kenya.
The move by the Malawian government comes shortly after the re-launch of Malawi Airlines, which formerly operated as Air Malawi. Following liquidation last year, the government partnered with Ethiopian Airlines, which owns 49% of the new airline, to re-capitalise the airline. Malawi Airlines started operating flights from Lilongwe and Blantyre in Malawi to Lusaka last month.
At the time of publication Kenya Airways has not responded to a request for comment. However, according to the eTurboNews report, the airline informed passengers with confirmed tickets on the Lilongwe-Lusaka route that they would be refunded in full.
