The maiden Kenya Airways non-stop, direct flight from Nairobi to New York ended at about 2.51pm on Monday afternoon, with a touchdown at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The Kenya Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner left the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for the US in a historic flight in Kenya’s aviation industry.
The plane left the airport at exactly 11.20pm on Sunday, although it had been scheduled to leave at 10.45pm.
Normal flights from Kenya to the US take up to 22 hours, for the 11,849km distance between Nairobi and New York.
Speaking shortly before the departure, President Kenyatta noted that the direct flights will open up Kenya to the rest of the world.
“These flights are set to provide a seamless experience for business and leisure travellers alike. It will allow the world to taste Kenya’s diverse cultures and hospitality,” he said.