Europe’s largest leisure tour operator, TUI Group, has renewed efforts to secure a charter flight licence into Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
Although TUI Fly, an airline under the TUI Group, was granted a licence for scheduled flights and resumed operations to Mombasa in late 2024, the latest application centred on a direct Amsterdam-Zanzibar-Mombasa-Amsterdam route by TUI Airlines Netherlands. It was denied by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
TUI said the refusal is inconsistent with Kenya’s bilateral air services agreement with the Netherlands and stated it has forced the group to suspend planned investments on the coast, including new projects that would have supported jobs and contributed to the government’s Vision 2030 agenda.
Some stakeholders believe that TUI’s earlier application to operate on the Kenyan coast was declined after regulators found discrepancies in how the company described its operations, initially applying as a charter but later as an airline. Charters and scheduled airlines have distinct regulatory frameworks and operational requirements so the mismatch raised concerns. They believe that this new application stands a better chance of being approved as the company has provided clearer and better-structured documentation, which increases the chances of approval.
Protectionist policies
“TUI’s charter rejection is a text book case of outdated protectionist thinking,” said HåvarBauck, Founder of HotelOnline. “They met all regulatory criteria and were designated under a bilateral agreement with the Netherlands. The real question now is whether Kenya wants more tourists, jobs and investment or just to protect the national carrier at all costs.”
For decades, charter flights into Mombasa were a lifeline for the tourism-dependent coast, connecting it to cities across Europe and Russia. The collapse of charter traffic during the 2010s, worsened by security concerns and infrastructure gaps, caused a sharp decline in visitor numbers.
In contrast, destinations like Zanzibar, Egypt and Tunisia doubled down on enabling charter connectivity. In 2024, Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport received more than 100 charter landings during the peak season alone. Many of these aircraft came from European cities where interest in African beach destinations is growing.
Tourism stakeholders across Kenya’s coast have been vocal in their support for TUI’s return. Charter tourism, they argue, has historically sustained the region’s economy by offering affordable travel packages, boosting hotel occupancy, and fuelling local excursions and safaris.
Mohammed Hersi, Group Director of Operations at Pollman’s Tours & Safaris, added: “Charter flights are not the enemy of Kenya Airways. They complement scheduled services and open markets that wouldn’t otherwise reach the coast. Blocking these flights chokes regional tourism and stifles competition.”
Sam Ikwaye, Executive Officer of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, said: “Charter licensing in Kenya is still stuck in a protectionist mindset. Meanwhile countries like Tanzania and Zanzibar are facilitating access and attracting the very tourists we’re losing.”
The call for “open skies” is now louder than ever. Recent approvals for Fly Dubai and the return of Turkish Airlines to Mombasa are encouraging signs. There’s also speculation that Qatar Airways could resume coastal operations soon.
However, industry leaders warn that incremental progress won’t be enough.
“We need to think big and expand airports, bring in world-class operators and embrace competition,” said Bauck. “Zanzibar brought in DNATA and is now reaping the benefits. Kenya can do the same but only if we act boldly.”
