Qatar Airways to launch direct flights from Doha to Mombasa

Qatar Airways has announced plans to launch direct flights from Doha to Moi International Airport in Mombasa.

The Airline, which operates daily flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, said that Mombasa is among 12 new destinations that it is set to launch operations in next year.

Other airlines that currently fly directly to Mombasa include Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines and RwandAir.

The move sets the stage for a battle with Kenya Airways which also plies the Mombasa-Doha route, though through Nairobi.

According to Qatar Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, the new destinations will open up the coast region to Doha and other parts of the Middle East thus promoting tourism and business for both countries.

This comes barely a year after Kenya’s Transport Ministry granted low-cost carrier flyDubai the rights to begin daily flights between Dubai and Mombasa.