Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Kenya Airways cancels international flights as cases soar across Africa

Kenya Airways cancels international flights as cases soar across Africa

Disruption expected to cost the company US$125 million, International Air Transport Association says. Number of infections in Africa has increased 12-fold over the past week to more than 2,400 and 64 deaths

National airlines across Africa have announced sweeping flight cancellations as countries close their borders in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

In Kenya, which had 25 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said on Monday that all international flights would be halted from Wednesday.

“All international flights are suspended effective Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at midnight with the exception of cargo flights whose crew must observe strict guidelines,” he said.

Flag carrier Kenya Airways confirmed the suspension, while its chief executive Allan Kilavuka said earlier that he would be taking an 80 per cent pay cut to help offset the economic impact of the move.

All other staff would have their wages cut by 25 to 75 per cent during the suspension, he said.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the disruption to flight schedules would cost the airline – which is about 50 per cent state-owned – 622,000 passengers and US$125 million.



As in many other parts of the world, the number of confirmed infections in Africa has rocketed in recent days, from fewer than 200 a week ago to 2,412 and 64 deaths as of Wednesday.

South Africa has reported the highest number of infections, with more than 700, followed by Egypt (402), Algeria (264) and Morocco (170).

A total of 14 African nations have reported fatalities from Covid-19, with Egypt being the worst hit with 20, followed by Algeria with 19 and Morocco with five.

Besides Kenya Airways, carriers in Uganda, Tunisia, Sudan, Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana, Egypt, Sudan, Cameroon, Algeria and Nigeria have also halted their international flights.

Alexandre de Juniac, the IATA’s director general and chief executive, said the scale of the industry crisis was “much worse and far more widespread than 9/11, Sars [severe acute respiratory syndrome] or the 2008 global financial crisis”.

“Airlines are fighting for survival,” he said. “Many routes have been suspended in Africa and the Middle East and airlines have seen demand fall by as much as 60 per cent. Millions of jobs are at stake.”

Last week, South African Airways responded to a government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of Covid-19 by saying it would suspend all international flights until May 31.

At that time it said it would continue to operate domestic flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, but on Wednesday reversed the decision, saying that they too would be suspended with effect from Friday.

South Africa is home to two of the continent’s busiest airports – O.R. Tambo International in Johannesburg and Cape Town International.

The IATA said the flight suspensions were likely to cost the airline industry 6 million passengers and US$1.2 billion.

Meanwhile Africa’s largest and most profitable carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, has refused to bow to pressure to suspend its service to China, though has halted flights to 30 international destinations.

Its chief executive, Tewolde Gebremariam, said last month that the company would not abandon its China routes, which were among its most profitable.

He said Ethiopian Airlines had been flying to China since 1973 and it would not be ethical to suspend flights to the country “because they have a temporary problem”.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×