Emirates Seattle, Dallas service to boost Kenya’s tourism

6^th March 2012 – Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has launch flights to between Nairobi and Seattle and Nairobi and Dallas/Fort Worth through its Dubai hub, opening up trade and tourism opportunities between Kenya and the United States. 

EK 221 touched down at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport at 8:45 am local time and received the traditional water cannon salute

With the two services linking Nairobi with United States dynamic and fast-growing cities Emirates’ Seattle and Dallas services are expected to generate a host of economic benefits; from boosting imports and exports to creating new markets for business and tourism.

“These new services are the latest step in Emirates’ strategic programme of expansion across the United States, and we are confident that it will support the burgeoning trade relationships between Kenya, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America,” said Emirates Regional Manager for East Africa Essa Ahmad Sulaiman.  

He continued: United stated is among the top source markets for Kenya’s tourism sector contributing significantly to the number of visitors to Kenya and we believe that the two new services to Seattle and Dallas will greatly support Kenya’s tourism sector. We also believe that the new services will provide Kenyan and American business and leisure travellers with easy, convenient and flexible connectivity between the two countries.”

Beyond expectations

According to the Kenya Tourism Board the top five source markets for Kenya in 2011 were U.K. with 203,290, U.S. with 119,615, Italy with 96,360, Germany with 68,737 and India with 58,986. The increase in arrivals from the United States exceeded the Board’s 5% standard expected increase per year and solidifies the United States' position as the second-largest inbound tourist market to Kenya after the United Kingdom.

Estimated tourism receipts in 2011 closed at Ksh97.9 billion, an increase of 32.9 percent compared to the Ksh73.7 billion from 2010. Leisure travel represented 71.3 percent of all arrivals. The majority of U.S. travelers (67 percent) reported leisure as their main purpose for travel to Kenya in 2011, while an additional 15 percent traveled to visit friends and relatives.

EK 229 leaves Dubai daily at 0950hrs and arrives at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 1310hrs. EK 230 departs Seattle at 1710hrs, arriving in Dubai at 1940hrs the following day.  On Dallas/Fort Worth, Emirates operates a daily service with a Boeing 777 aircraft. EK221 leaves Dubai daily at 0245hrs, arriving at Dallas/Fort Worth at 0905hrs. The return sector, EK 222, leaves Dallas/Fort Worth at 1150hrs, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 1220hrs the following day.

Downtown Seattle

 Emirates’ Dallas/Fort Worth and Seattle service offers a 15-ton freight capacity each and is likely to offer additional import and export capacity between Kenya and the United States.

Kenya is currently the 102^nd largest goods trading partner with the United States valued at $674 million in total. U.S. goods exports to Kenya in 2010 reached USD363 million with the main export commodities including aircraft, machinery, milling, malt, starch, electrical machinery, and special other (low value shipments and repaired products). Kenya’s export to the US mainly constituted knit apparel, woven apparel, spices, coffee, tea, fruit, and edible nuts. 

With a fleet of 169 aircraft, Emirates now flies to 122 destinations, having recently launched Lusaka and Harare. Services to Ho Chi Minh City starts on 4th June and Barcelona joins the Emirates’ network on 3rd July.