After months of regulatory limbo and repeated setbacks, TUI Airlines has finally secured approval to operate charter flights between Amsterdam and Mombasa/Zanzibar, opening a crucial new gateway between Europe and Kenyas coast.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority KCAA confirmed, in late December 2025, that TUI was granted a one-year licence to operate Inclusive Tour Charters, marking a breakthrough after a June rejection and a prolonged second application process that began in August.
Using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, TUI will now be able to fly holidaymakers directly from Amsterdam to Mombasa with some services extending to Zanzibar, creating seamless beach and bush itineraries. For European travellers, that means no more long layovers in Nairobi or Middle Eastern hubs. For hoteliers in Diani, Watamu, Malindi and North Coast, it means something far more tangible: full beds during the peak winter season.
