Kenya Airways (KQ) has suspended ticketing services in Malawi over the country’s biting dollar shortage crisis. As a result, passengers travelling from Malawi on the airline must buy their tickets from agents in other countries.
Malawi has been facing acute shortages of foreign exchange currency forcing foreign traders to halt or suspend some of their operations in Malawi.
“Following increasing foreign currency repatriation difficulties experienced in Malawi in the recent past, Kenya Airways regrets to inform our Trade Partners that Kenya Airways has suspended ticket issuance authority in the Malawi market. Subsequently, with immediate effect, the ticketing authority for all agents (including KQ CTOs and ATOs) in Malawi shall be withdrawn until further notice.” KQ in a statement as quoted by Business Daily.
Affected travellers can also buy tickets online where they will be required to make payments using either credit or debit card.
KQ joins Ethiopian Airlines which also suspended ticketing services in the country over the forex crisis. Ethiopia linked the move to the inability of the Reserve Bank of Malawi to remit money to their accounts due to dwindling forex reserves.
Malawi expects to agree on a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to offset the foreign exchange shortage crisis.
Kenya Airways first launched a direct flight from Nairobi to Malawi’s commercial capital Blantyre (BLZ) in southern Malawi in 2013.
Read also; KQ Inks Deal with Africa World Airlines to Expand West Africa Reach.