Qatar Airways has unveiled plans for direct flights between Doha and Mombasa starting December 9.
This emerged in President Uhuru Kenyatta's meeting with a delegation of senior Qatar government officials at State House on Monday.
Qatar's Minister for Transport and Communication Jassim Bin Saif Al Sulati informed the President of the plans.
The move has been hailed as a boost to the government's efforts to reposition Mombasa as a key global tourist destination.
President Uhuru Kenyatta with a delegation of Qatar leaders at State House, Nairobi on Monday, October 1, 2018. /PSCU
Qatar Airways is also working on scheduled direct flights between Italy and Malindi as it seeks to grow its footprints in Kenya.
Besides aviation, housing, maritime and hospitality issues were discussed.
Al Sulati said a consortium of Qatari investors is willing to invest in 100,000 affordable housing units.
Affordable housing is one of the pillars in the Jubilee government's Big Four agenda.
Uhuru welcomed the plan for direct flights. The same will be launched barely two months after Kenya would have started direct flights to New York.
He said: "We look forward to the maiden flight by Qatar Airways to Mombasa. For us, it is a confirmation of the continued and growing cooperation between our two countries."
The delegation also confirmed their country's participation in the Blue Economy Conference Kenya will co-host with Canada in Nairobi next month.
Transport CS James Macharia, CAS Chris Obure and Treasury PS Kamau Thugge attended the event.
Also present were Qatar Ambassador to Kenya Jabr Al Dosari and Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker.
Tag: Qatar , Qatar News , Qatar Airways , Doha-Mombasa direct flights