RIYADH: Emirates has announced an interline partnership with Kenya Airways that will offer increased travel options for customers between Africa and the Middle East. The agreement will allow customers of both airlines access to new destinations on the two airlines’ networks within a single itinerary. Emirates customers will now be able to fly to 28 destinations on the Kenya Airways network using Nairobi as the gateway to locations including Nampula, Bangui, and Kilimanjaro. As part of a bilateral interline arrangement, Emirates passengers traveling via Dubai can also book a single ticket itinerary from or to Mombasa. Similarly, Kenya Airways passengers traveling from Nairobi and Mombasa can now access the Emirates’ network and connect through Dubai to 23 destinations across West and South Asia, the Far East, the Indian Ocean and Middle East. Adnan Kazim, chief commercial officer of Emirates, said: “We look forward to deepening our relationship with Kenya Airways, offering greater network opportunities and improving connections for both of our customers.” Julius Thairu, chief commercial and customer officer of Kenya Airways, added: “Partnerships like these are key in aviation as they take advantage of mutual scale and efficiencies to provide customers with more seamless travel options.” Emirates began operations in Kenya by launching flights between Nairobi and Dubai in 1995. Since then, the route has steadily grown to 14 weekly flights, having flown over 5 million passengers. Kenya Airways recently launched direct connectivity between Mombasa and Dubai, offering customers four weekly flights.