Nyeri County has launched a commercial airline service between Nyeri and Nairobi after consultations and studies on prospect of the venture were completed.
The county has partnered with Bush Air Safaris (BAS) to run the flight service between Nyaribo Airstrip in Nyeri and Wilson Airport in Nairobi, a distance of 161.3 kilometres.
For Sh3, 000 a passenger will make one-way flight for 25 minutes and escape a three-hour traffic using the road.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga franked by Information and Communications Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru and areas leaders inaugurated the airline.
The maiden trip from Nairobi to Nyaribo was made by a BAS’ 11-seater Beechcraft Kingair 200 that landed in Nyeri at 11.48PM.
Mid-September an optimistic Kahiga hinted plans were underway to revive the airstrip that had been turned into a grazing and maize drying field.
“This move will open up new business opportunities in the transport, trade and tourism sectors” Kahiga stated.
Mucheru said plans to re-awaken Nyaribo airstrip were discussed at national and county government levels.
Mucheru lauded the launch saying “You don’t have to rush to Nairobi on Sunday. Flight can start 6.30am Monday morning and by 7am you are in Nairobi before Karen residents gets there”.
