Kenya’s African Express Airways enters airport squabble

African Express Airways (XU, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) has entered an ongoing property squabble between Kenya Airways and local carrier 748 Air Services at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, reports Kenya Today.

The regional airline, in a letter to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), has requested alternative access gates to its offices at the airport. Managing Director Musa Bulhan claimed his staff were unable to get to work because of an ongoing legal tussle between Kenya Airways and 748 Air Services over a piece of land owned by Kenya Airways and previously leased to African Airlines International (AIK, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta).

On August 5, 2021, AFEX had obtained a High Court order directing Kenya Airways to allow AFEX use of a gate at the Airport North Road. AFEX argued that it was not party to the lower court matter filed by Kenya Airways against 748 Air Services but still, its offices had been targeted by vandals on July 23. “We are unable to access our premises on L.R. No.9042/584 because KQ has denied us access even after the court order was given,” Bulhan said in the letter.

The Milimani Commercial Court in Nairobi is to rule on September 23, 2021, on the case which has seen Kenya Airways trying to evict 748 Air Services from the disputed property claiming it has not paid the rent, while the charter specialist has successfully filed a counter-claim staying its eviction on the grounds that it had paid rent to the previous occupant, the now defunct African Airlines International (AIK, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta).