Nairobi — Amsterdam-based TUI Airlines Nederland B.V. has been granted an air service licence to operate Inclusive Tour Charter flights on the Amsterdam-Zanzibar-Mombasa-Amsterdam route.
The one-year licence was issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and took effect last month.
According to a notice published in the Kenya Gazette, the airline has been approved to operate two weekly frequencies using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner based in Amsterdam, without traffic rights between Zanzibar and Mombasa.
The approval marks a reversal from mid-2025, when KCAA declined the Dutch charter airline's application to operate two weekly flights on the same route using a Boeing 787 based at Schiphol Airport.
Mombasa and Zanzibar are considered key leisure destinations, particularly for European travellers seeking beach tourism, cultural experiences, and coastal heritage. Both destinations are well known for their pristine beaches, rich histories, and vibrant local cultures, making them popular holiday hubs for the European market.