KQ renames flight carrying late Raila Odinga to RAO001

KQ renames flight carrying late Raila Odinga to RAO001
Kenya Airways will now operate flight KQ478 direct to Kigali and return via Entebbe, Uganda departing JKIA at 00.25am local time and arriving in Kigali at 00.50am local time (Rwanda)/FILE

 

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 16 – Kenya Airways (KQ) has renamed the flight carrying the late Raila Odinga to RAO001, a special code assigned in his honour as the aircraft entered Kenyan airspace from Ethiopia.

The plane, originally operating as KQ203, departed from Mumbai, India, where Odinga’s body had been flown for treatment, before proceeding to Nairobi. It is expected to land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at around 9:30 am.

“KQ203 will change to RAO001 as soon as we reach Kenyan airspace at around 8:50 am to honour and respect our departed leader,” Kenya Airways announced on X.

The renaming marks the first time a Kenyan politician or public figure has had a commercial flight designated with a special code name by the national carrier.