TUI Cleared to Launch Amsterdam Charter Flights to Mombasa and Zanzibar
TUI Airlines, Europe’s largest tour airline, has received regulatory approval to begin charter operations to Kenya after months of delays and failed permitting attempts.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has granted TUI a one-year license, effective 10 November 2025, authorizing tour charter service on the routing:
Amsterdam – Zanzibar – Mombasa – Amsterdam
Two Weekly Charters With Boeing 787s
Under the license terms, TUI will operate two weekly charter flights using Boeing 787 aircraft based in Amsterdam. The flights are designed to target leisure demand for Indian Ocean and East African coastal destinations, aligning with the seasonal surge in European winter travel.
No Passenger Rights Between Zanzibar and Mombasa
A key condition of the approval is that the airline will operate without traffic rights between Zanzibar and Mombasa. That means passengers cannot be picked up or dropped off on the Zanzibar–Mombasa sector.
In practice, this restricts the middle leg to an operational positioning segment rather than a commercially sellable route, consistent with international air service rules governing traffic rights.
Permit Approved After Earlier Rejection
The license follows a renewed application submitted in August 2025, after TUI’s earlier request was rejected in June. With authorization now confirmed, the airline is positioning the flights as a way to capitalize on the recovery in international tourism and rising European demand for warm-weather destinations.
Controversy Over Impact on Local Tourism Players
The approval has drawn pushback from some Kenyan tourism associations, which previously warned that vertically integrated foreign tour operators could undercut local businesses by bundling:
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flights
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accommodation
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ground services
Critics argue this could reduce spending with local airlines, tour operators, and hotels.
Regulators have defended the decision as a necessary step to increase capacity and competitiveness, particularly as Kenya’s coastal tourism has lagged behind competing destinations that have attracted more European charter traffic during the winter season.
Bigger Picture
For TUI, the license expands its established long-haul charter footprint across Africa and other leisure markets. For Kenya, it represents a strategic push to rebuild inbound tourism by improving direct air access from Europe and strengthening the appeal of its beach destinations.
