KQ adjusts Europe flights by 1 hour over Sudan unrest

Kenya Airways (KQ) has adjusted flight schedules to and from Europe by approximately one hour following unrest in Sudan.

In a statement, KQ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said the adjustment is meant to cater for re-routing time, after Sudanese civil aviation authorities banned flights through their airspace.

“Following the ongoing unrest in Sudan, the Sudanese Civil Aviation authorities have banned flights through their airspace. We, therefore, wish to inform our customers that we have adjusted the schedules for our flights to and from Europe by approximately one hour to cater for the rerouting of these flights,” Thairu said.

On Saturday, KQ suspended its flights to Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, over the unrest pitting the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

“Due to the ongoing unrest in Khartoum, Sudan, we have cancelled all flights into and out of Khartoum effective 15. April 2023. This is still a developing situation, we continue to monitor and will share updates as soon as we have more information,” KQ said on Saturday.

Kenyans stuck in Sudan

It is estimated that around 3,000 Kenyans are stuck in the country following the war that broke out on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua said that the government is in communication with KQ in a bid to try and evacuate them “once things cool off”.

“We have almost three thousand Kenyans stuck in Sudan. We are in communication with KQ, and once things cool off, we will bring the Kenyans back here. I advise Kenyans in foreign countries to register with the embassies. That way, we can easily contact them,” Mutua said.

Sudan has been in political turmoil since Gen Burhan led the military in toppling a civilian government in October 2021.