AirAsia becomes the first low-cost carrier from South-East Asia to fly to Africa

Photo credit: AirAsia

AirAsia X of Malaysia has made history by becoming the first low-cost carrier to connect South-East Asia with Africa. It has announced a new connection between Singapore and the Kenyan capital Nairobi, with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur. This service marks a new direct flight connection between South-East Asia and Africa and the first entry of the low-cost flight carrier into the African market. AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes said the route could strengthen tourism, business, and trade ties between the two continents.

The new flight is expected to link Kenya with various destinations across Southeast, Northern and Central Asia, using AirAsia X’s Fly-Thru service, which allows passengers to transfer to a connecting flight without rechecking their bags. The inaugural flight is scheduled for 15 November 2024. In addition to Nairobi, AirAsia X plans to launch services to Cape Town in South Africa and Cairo in Egypt.

During a visit to Nairobi in 2023, former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasised Kenya's strategic importance as an entry point for Singaporean businesses into East Africa and noted the potential for increased tourism. Kenya is renowned for its safari parks, such as the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Photo credit: Amit Jain

Centre Director Amit Jain at the Nairobi National Park.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya does not specify the number of tourists from Singapore, Malaysia accounted for only 2,307 international arrivals to the East African country in 2023. Overall, Asia contributed 17% of international arrivals to Kenya in 2023, totalling 321,592 visitors. India led with 94,273 visitors, followed by China with 52,865. Other notable source markets included Japan (8,798), South Korea (7,960), Pakistan (7,914), Sri Lanka (2,987), the Philippines (2,910), Taiwan (2,641), and Bangladesh (2,016). China showed the most significant increase, with traveller numbers rising by 161%, attributed to the reopening of its borders at the beginning of 2023.

Asian tourists travel to Kenya for various reasons. Data shows that 51% of Indians travelled for leisure, while 21% visited family and friends who represent a sizeable ethnic Indian community that lives in Kenya. 63% of Chinese tourists visited for holidays, with 22% travelling for business. Japanese tourists mainly travelled for leisure, making up 56%, while 30% visited for business purposes.

In 2023, Singapore’s bilateral trade with Kenya totalled US$272.6m, with key exports from the city-state including petroleum oils (US$186.2m), plastics (US$12.2m), and turbojets (US$9.9m). Kenya’s principal exports to Singapore comprised hides and skins (US$1.8m), cut flowers (US$1.6m), and coffee (US$573,000). Meanwhile, Malaysia's trade with Kenya reached US$1.2bn last year. Malaysia's imports from the East African country included titanium (US$12m), tea (US$3.5m), and zirconium (US$1.5m), while its exports to Kenya primarily consisted of vegetable and animal oils (US$758.7m), petroleum oils (US$322.1m, and furniture and related products (US$6.7m).

 

References

‘PM Lee Hsien Loong at the Q&A segment of the joint press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto (May 2023)’, Prime Minister's Office Singapore, 18 May 2023

‘AirAsia X to kickstart flights to Africa, Nairobi their new destination’, MalayMail, 24 June 2024

‘AirAsia X expands into Africa with a new intercontinental route - allowing for seamless Fly-Thru travel between Singapore and Nairobi’, AirAsia, 02 July 2024

‘AirAsia X launches flights to Kenya via KL, one-way fares from $332’, The Straits Times, 04 July 2024

‘Bilateral trade between Singapore and Kenya: Exports’, International Trade Centre, Accessed 07 July 2024

‘Bilateral trade between Singapore and Kenya: Imports’, International Trade Centre, Accessed 07 July 2024

‘Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Kenya: Exports’, International Trade Centre, Accessed 07 July 2024

‘Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Kenya: Imports’, International Trade Centre, Accessed 07 July 2024

Annual tourism sector performance report’, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, 2024