Tensions over the ban on Kenya Airways flights to Tanzania appear to be easing, with both countries pledging to resolve the matter amicably within three days through diplomatic talks.
Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, said that he and his Tanzanian counterpart, January Makamba, are prepared to sit down and discuss ways to find a swift and peaceful solution.
“There should be no cause for concern,” Mudavadi said, emphasising a shift away from the initial alarm triggered by the ban.
The dispute stems from Tanzania’s decision to bar Kenya Airways flights to Dar es Salaam, its commercial capital, in retaliation for Kenya’s denial of cargo flight rights to Tanzania’s national carrier, Air Tanzania.
This move disrupted the 33 weekly scheduled flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, raising concerns for frequent travellers between the two East African nations.
Both Mudavadi and Makamba acknowledged the existing agreements and expressed confidence in resolving the issue within the next three days through their respective civil aviation authorities.
This promising development offers a glow of hope for a quick resumption of flights and a return to normalcy for passenger travel between Kenya and Tanzania.
The success of these talks within the designated timeframe will determine whether diplomatic efforts prevail over the initial retaliation-driven approach.
The next three days will be crucial in determining the outcome of this dispute and its impact on air travel between these two neighbours.