NAIROBI, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's national carrier, Kenya Airways Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom (UK)-based Skyports to collaborate on launching permanent unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drones operations in the country.
Allan Kilavuka, CEO at Kenya Airways, said that in the coming three months, the partnership aims to explore the commercial viability and impact of various medical, logistical and inspection use cases alongside Kenya's leading public and private institutions.
The target for the launch of the first drone delivery flights is in Quarter 3 to Quarter 4 of 2021, Kilavuka said in a statement.
He added that the collaboration with Skyports aligns with the airline's purpose of sustainable development of Africa as it will support diversification plans into drone technology application.
According to the Kenyan carrier, the partnership will also give the airline access to available equipment and established operations that will lay the foundation for its entry into the Kenyan and regional drone market.
Duncan Walker, CEO at Skyports, said that the collaboration has the potential to unlock significant opportunities for drone deliveries and inspections in Kenya, creating time and cost savings for customers and contributing to the growth of the country's tech and aviation ecosystem. Enditem
