Domestic and cargo services from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were expected to resume yesterday afternoon following a fire at the airport yesterday morning. A set time-frame for the resumption of international flights was still to be announced.

A statement by State House spokesperson, Manoah Esipisu, however said that the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority had granted clearance for the use of Unit 3 for international departures and arrivals and should be prepared for flights to operate from today.

In a statement from Kenya Airways it said that management was working closely with The Kenya Airports Authority management and senior government authorities to see when some operations could resume at the earliest convenience.

All transiting guests have been checked into hotels in Nairobi.

The airline added that any customers who require a change of reservation or an update on their connecting flights are kindly advised to contact the Kenya Airways contact centre or visit any of the Kenya Airways sales offices worldwide.

Guests in Mombasa were given the option of travelling to Nairobi by road. The airline added that it will advise on passengers in Eldoret and Kisumu once more detailed information became available.

 SAA said in a statement that it had cancelled all flights between Johannesburg and Nairobi on August 7 but added that, while all efforts were made by the Kenyan authorities to resume flight operations, it was still too early for any indication as to when the operations would resume.

The airline has put a recovery plan in place to minimise the inconvenience to passengers. The plan will be activated as soon as a signal is received indicating that the airport has resumed operations.

Any passengers wishing to cancel or reschedule their flights should take note of the following:

• The rebooking of flights will be made on the next available flight (same cabin/same booking class) subject to space;
• All date and flight change fees will be waived;
• This allowance will apply to South African Airways tickets only and not on any other airline tickets;
• The offer must be taken up and tickets re-issued through an SAA office by August 12; and
• If passengers are moving to a later date, all such travel must commence on or before August 21.

Ethiopian Airlines cancelled flight ET801, yesterday and accommodated transit passengers in hotels.