The governments of Kenya and Tanzania have expressed their disappointment with KLM after the airline published a travel advisory on Friday, January 27th warning of potential disruptions due to civil unrest in the two countries.
KLM later amended the advisory to refer to a local threat in Tanzania, but not before causing confusion and raising concerns among travelers.
So @KLM where’s this “civil unrest” in Kenya & Tanzania you speak of?
They quietly removed Kenya since I last checked pic.twitter.com/H0CMtHBxNg
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) January 28, 2023
In response to the backlash, KLM issued a clarification and apology, stating that the advisory was only meant for customers in Tanzania and was mistakenly sent to customers in Kenya as well. The airline expressed its regret for the inconvenience and damage the erroneous alert may have caused.
The Kenyan government voiced its protest, with the country’s Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen calling the information “false, insensitive, and misleading”. The Tanzanian government also dismissed the claims as baseless, alarmist, and insensitive.
My statement on KLM’s false claims of Civil unrest in Kenya. pic.twitter.com/10hbqsJK9C
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) January 28, 2023
Despite the false travel advisory, Kenya and Tanzania remain as a key destination for international travel, attracting travelers from around the world with their rich culture, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes.
KLM’s service in Kenya and Tanzania has been uninterrupted for over 54 years, and the airline reiterates its commitment to connecting its customers in both countries to the rest of the world.
KLM’s apology for the erroneous alert should assure travelers that flights in and out of both Nairobi and Tanzania remain as per schedule, with no interruptions anticipated.
