American aviation giant Delta Air Lines has announced a new partnership with Kenya Airways. The codeshare agreement, on the Kenyan airline’s flights from Amsterdam, Paris, London, and Accra to Nairobi, is now in effect.

The deal also sees Delta codes added to Kenya’s national carrier services to ten major hubs across the continent including Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Lilongwe, Malawi; Maputo, Mozambique; Johannesburg, South Africa and Djibouti City, Djibout.

“Even greater choice for travel between the continents”

Discussing the codeshare, Corneel Koster, Delta’s SVP for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, said: “Delta is the leading carrier between the United States and Africa. This new partnership with Kenya Airways will give customers even greater choice for travel between the continents thanks to Kenya Airways’ extensive network beyond Nairobi.”

The news comes in light of Kenya Airways’ new non-stop flights to New York, set to begin operations 28 October of this year. This makes it the first airline to offer direct connections from East Africa to the US. Delta has operated routes to Africa since 2006 and currently runs services to 43 destinations in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.

Kenya Airways chief commercial offficer, Vincent Coste said: “We are delighted about this closer relationship with Delta, and believe that this will bring real benefits to our customers and our business.  Kenya Airways and Delta are both premier airlines and this agreement is a positive step in our cooperation.”

“The partnership… offers greater choice and elevates the travel experience”

Guillaume Durand, the group director for sales and marketing, at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts – current partners with Kenya Airways to promote travel and hospitality to the region – said: “The partnership between Delta Air Lines and Kenya Airways is welcomed news, it offers greater choice and elevates the travel experience to the benefit of both leisure and business travellers.

“Our partnership with Kenya Airways cements our position to give travellers the opportunity to experience luxury lifestyle experiences in Kenya with a stay at our three uniquely positioned iconic properties.”