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Kenya’s ambassador to the United States, Robinson Njeru Githae, said at the welcoming ceremony that the opening of a direct link between Kenya and the US should provide a big boost for the tourism industry.

Robert Godec, the US ambassador to Kenya, was a passenger on the maiden flight. “This is a historic moment for both Kenya and the United States,” Mr Godec said. “I know this flight is going to make new things possible — new business deals, new trade, new investment, more opportunities for students to come from the United States to Kenya, and Kenya to the United States.”

Upon landing KQ chief executive officer Sebastian Mikosz and the chairman Michael Joseph, who were also on the inaugural flight, were presented with a symbol of New York City - a glass apple. Roel Huinink, the CEO of JFK International Air Terminal LLC, made the presentation.

Foreign Minister Ms Juma noted in her address that the nonstop KQ service to New York gives the national carrier “a vantage point to serve more than 60 million travellers through JFK.”

“But this also demonstrates another opportunity for creating synergies from the North to the South Hemisphere,” the minister added. “This KQ flight offers New York, the UN headquarters, and a zenith of multilateral agencies that are dealing with various development aspects into Nairobi, the only UN capital in the global South, a unique opportunity and benefit of seamless connection.”

Previously travellers wanting to travel from New York to Kenya or vice versa could take over 22 hours to get to their respective destination using connecting flights, now it is a nonstop flight of less than 15 hours making it convenient and hassle free.

And of course direct flights drastically reduce the chances of passenger’s luggage taking unplanned detours!