Introduce Direct Flights From Italy To Malindi, Italian Billionaire Flavio Briatore Urges Kenya Airways

Flavio Briatore strolling in Malindi with a female companion. | image source: industriadelturismo.com| 

Italian Billionaire Flavio Briatore has urged national carrier Kenya Airways to introduce a direct flight to Italy.

Briatore, who owns the exclusive Lion In The Sun resort in Malindi, said on Sunday that if Kenya Airways introduce direct flights to the European nation, they will save many tourists who are currently discouraged to visit Kenya and the Coastal region in particular due to the long hours of travel they have to endure owing to many flight connections.

The billionaire, who was speaking to journalists at his resort, also called for an urgent upgrade of the Malindi International Airport so that flights from Europe can land there directly.

In an article published by , The Italian believes that the changes will boost the country's economy by encouraging more Italians to visit Kenya as well as create 25 000 jobs for locals.

“Kenya has a big advantage because it is close to Europe, but tourists have to spend between 15-20 hours flying due to the fact that Kenya Airways has no direct flight from Italy,’’ he said.

According to Briatore, tourists visiting Kenya from Italy, fly to Nairobi through Istanbul before catching another flight to Mombasa from where they travel to Malindi by road, a journey which takes three hours.