In a statement, the national carrier attributed the postponement to delays in getting the additional airline and operational requirements.

‘’Kenya Airways wishes to update its guests and the public, that due to the delays in the getting the additional airline and operational requirements for flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu planned for December 5 have been further postponed,’’ the airline said .

This is the second time KQ is postponing the launch of Mogadishu route after pushing the first launch from November 15 to 5 December.

“Kenya Airways wishes to inform our customers and the public that the launch of the Nairobi- Mogadishu route that was scheduled to commence on November 15 has been postponed to December 5,’’ the airline announced during the first postponement.

KQ chief executive Sebastian Mikosz said the delay was due to additional airline and operational requirements beyond the firm’s control.

‘’We are engaging the relevant authorities on the necessary approvals and we expect to finalise this process as soon as possible and officially start operations for this eagerly awaited route,” Mikosz said.

The indefinite postponement means that the KQ will take longer to return to Somalia’s capital after Kenya in 2006 suspended direct flights to Mogadishu following increased terror threats and attacks by the al-Qaeda linked terror group the Al-shabaab.

Planes from Mogadishu pass through Wajir International Airport for security checks and screening before proceeding to Nairobi.

The national carrier was to launch its direct flight to Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu on 15 November in a move that was expected to boost trade with the Horn of Africa nation.

However in a statement, Kenya Airways CEO, Sebastian Mikosz, said the airline would not fly to Somalia until “operational requirements beyond our control” are sorted out.

“Kenya Airways wishes to inform our customers and the public that the launch of the Nairobi- Mogadishu route that was scheduled to commence on November 15 has been postponed to December 5.

“This delay is due to additional airline and operational requirements beyond our control. We are engaging the relevant authorities on the necessary approvals and we expect to finalise this process as soon as possible and officially start operations for this eagerly awaited route,” said Mr Mikosz.

The daily nonstop flight was to leave JKIA at 07:40 am to arrive in Mogadishu at 9:55 am local time.

It was then expected to depart Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu at 10:45am to arrive back in Nairobi at 1:00pm.

Kenya Airways subsidiary, Jambojet was set to fly the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 on this route.

The airline will operate the route daily as it seeks to enhance intra-Africa air connectivity linking cities and facilitating movement of people and thereby enhancing social and economic ties between the countries.

The flight operated by Jambojet on the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, will depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi at 07:40 and depart Aden Adde International Airport, Mogadishu at 10:45 to arrive back in Nairobi at 13:00.

In a statement, Kenya Airways CEO, Sebastian Mikosz said that the daily flight is aimed at meeting the growing travel demand by Somali travellers, government and non-government organization officials and a growing number of entrepreneurs from Kenya and around the region who are keen on seeking opportunities in the country.

“We want to extend our network reach and make it convenient for our guests who work and invest in Somalia. The addition of this route to our network demonstrates our commitment to improving connectivity on the African continent, while creating new opportunities for corporates investors, traders and tourists”, said Group Managing Director and CEO Sebastian Mikosz.

With the demand for travel by traders to Somalia through Nairobi increasing, the launch of this route is expected to ease travel between the two cities that are the focal points of business in the two countries and spur commercial activities.

Flights will depart Nairobi at 07h40, arriving in Mogadishu at 09h55. The return service will depart Mogadishu at 10h45, arriving in Nairobi at 13h00.

Announcing the resumption of services, Tewolde Gebremariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said that the airline plans to quickly grow to multiple daily flights, given the huge volume of traffic between the two sister countries and the significant traffic between Somalia and the rest of the world.

“The flights will play a significant role in strengthening the people-to-people and economic ties between the two neighbourly and sisterly countries. The flights will also enable the important Somali Diaspora in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa to travel to their homeland via Addis Ababa thanks to our global network of over 116 international destinations,” Gebremariam added.

Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, departing Addis Ababa at 10h00, arriving in Mogadishu at 11h30. The return flights will depart Mogadishu at 12h10, arriving in Addis Ababa at 13h40.

Ethiopia’s flag carrier stopped flights after the two countries went to war in 1977 over Ethiopia’s Ogaden region, which neighbours Somalia.

The airline will operate a thrice-weekly return service from Addis Ababa to Mogadishu, Hussein Hosh, manager of the airline, reportedly told Mogadishu-based Radio Dalsan. Somali and Ethiopian businessmen have been urging their governments to restart commercial flights.

Travellers from Somalia currently use a longer routes via Nairobi in Kenya or Djibouti to get to Addis Ababa. The move comes in the wake of a visit by Ethiopia’s new reformist prime minister to Mogadishu.

In his four months in office, Abiy Ahmed’s been improving relations with Ethiopia’s neighbours.

Last month, Ethiopian Airlines restarted flights to Asmara after a two-decade hiatus thanks to an ending of hostilities with Eritrea, overseen by Mr Abiy. Read more: Ethiopian father reunited with long-lost daughters.