Emirates Airline has expanded its European reach with the start of a daily service between Nairobi and Stockholm through its Dubai hub.Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Hubert Frach says Stockholm is an important centre for business, industry and services to Kenya.
“The new route will play a significant role in supporting this growth by connecting Nairobi and Stockholm and help improve bilateral relations and cultural exchange between Kenya and Sweden,” he said.
Frach revealed that EK720 leaves Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1640hrs and lands in Dubai at 1040hrs with the second flight EK722 leaving JKIA at 2250hrs and landing in Dubai at 0450hrs.
He said that Emirates flight EK157 departs Dubai at 0715hrs and lands in Stockholm at 1200hrs the same day.
EK158 departs Stockholm at 1355hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2255hrs.
“The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft operating on the route is well-appointed with eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class, and ample space for 216 customers in Economy Class,” he said.
Emirates now operates services to 135 destinations in 77 countries from Dubai.
Frach said that on October 1, Emirates will launch services to Clark International Airport in the Philippines and on the same day will commence its transatlantic Milan-New York route.
“We will also launch a linked service to Conakry in Guinea from October 27, Sialkot in Pakistan on November 5, and we will expand our presence in Eastern Europe with the launch of Kiev on January 16, 2014, followed by Taipei on February 10, 2014,” he revealed.
According to statistics from the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi, the interest in Kenya and East Africa among Swedish institutional and private investors has been growing.
The trade volume between Sweden and Kenya has increased 310 percent between 2003 and 2012 with a growing number of Swedish companies having established themselves in Kenya.
Sweden’s export to Kenya amounted to approximately Sh6.3 billion in 2012.
