Nairobi has been spared after Turkish Airlines permanently removed five African destinations from its future flight schedule.
The affected cities are Luanda in Angola, Juba in South Sudan, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libreville in Gabon and Lusaka in Zambia. Nairobi was not among the routes affected by the latest changes.
Reports indicate that Turkish Airlines had initially described the suspension of the five routes as temporary after services were halted in April. However, the destinations have since been removed from the airline’s schedule beyond October 24, making the withdrawal permanent.
The decision is particularly significant for Luanda, where Turkish Airlines becomes one of several international carriers to withdraw services in recent years.
The Angolan capital’s new Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport has faced challenges attracting sufficient passenger traffic and international airlines. The airport was designed to handle up to 15 million passengers annually but handled about 756,000 passengers in 2025, according to figures cited in recent reports.
Brussels Airlines ended its Luanda service in March 2025, while other carriers have also adjusted or discontinued their connections to the Angolan capital.
Turkish Airlines’ withdrawal will affect travellers using the airline’s Istanbul hub to connect the five African cities with destinations in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.
For Nairobi, however, the latest route changes mean that the Kenyan capital remains part of Turkish Airlines’ African network.
The development highlights the changing nature of air travel across Africa, where airlines regularly review routes based on passenger demand, operating costs and other commercial considerations.
Travellers planning journeys involving the affected destinations are advised to check directly with Turkish Airlines or their travel agents for the latest information on available flights and alternative connections.