At first, it was the Ethiopian Airlines that started to refuse bookings using Malawi currency and now Kenya Airways has also suspended local ticket sales.
According to The Daily Times of Wednesday, March 7, 2012, “the continued unavailability of foreign exchange” in the country is the main reason for the disruption of the airline, as the company is failing to remit its revenue back to Nairobi because it is stuck with local currency.
According to the paper, this development has reduced Kenya Airways flight to Lilongwe from 10 to 2 and “immediate suspension of air ticket sales in Lilongwe.”
The Kenya Airways code named KQ, tariffs notice number 02-03-12 allegedly in The Daily Times possession reads:
“This is to bring to your attention that with immediate effect KQ has suspended sales in Malawi until further notice. You are therefore requested not to make any booking or issue tickets in Malawi to be utilised on KQ’s services.
Please note tickets can be sold from any other point of sales outside Malawi for travel to start in Malawi e.g. PTA’s /e-tickets.”
Alleluya Band is scheduled to leave for Italy to hold shows to raise funds for education, which is one pillar of Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust, this May.