As President Uhuru Kenyatta called for increased trade, debt relief, and vaccine fairness for pandemic recovery, Kenya is pursuing new aviation agreements that will allow Nairobi to reach out to the Caribbean market.
On the second day of his visit to the Caribbean island, Kenya signed bilateral agreements on aviation cooperation, environmental conservation, and trade and investment.
The talks focused on a bilateral aviation services agreement, which is the first stage in allowing airlines from the two countries to collaborate and link, easing travel between the two regions.
Raychelle Omamo, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, signed the agreement on behalf of Kenya, while Barbados’ Minister for Foreign Affairs signed it on behalf of Barbados.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo signed the deal on behalf of Kenya while Barbados Minister for Tourism and International Transport Lisa Cummins represented her country at a ceremony witnessed in Bridgetown by President Kenyatta and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.
The two countries have had no direct connection for flights and travellers heading either way, and have to mostly transit through the United States.
The signing of the deal may not cut the length of the trip, but it gives airlines like Kenya Airways an easier access to the Caribbean through future code sharing.