Kenyans working and living in the United States have expressed their excitement over plans by national carrier, Kenya Airways to launch direct flights to the New York City beginning October this year.

Speaking to the Nation, a number of Kenyans in the diaspora hailed the plan, noting that it will save them money and time.

“This is the best New Year gift our premier carrier, the Pride of Africa, has given to us Kenyans living here who make numerous trips to Kenya for different reasons.”

“I can’t exactly tell you how happy I feel about this news,” said Stanely Njoroge, a Kenyan-born resident of South Jersey.

“Kenya is a regional power house and so it didn’t make sense that Ethiopian and South African airlines fly directly to the US and KQ doesn’t,” said Abubakar Rajab, who resides in Philadelphia.

The airline will from Thursday start selling advance tickets for its maiden flight to the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City.

A KQ flight will be leaving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 10.30pm every day, and take 15 hours to NY from the current flight time of over 22 hours.

It will arrive at JKF at 6.30am, while the return flight will depart at 1.30pm and arrive at JKIA at around 10.30am the next day.