Kenya Airways plans to launch direct flights between Nairobi and the United States next year.

Kenya’s national carrier has submitted its application for direct flights to the US, targeting June 2018 for the inaugural flight.

The airline is also seeking to partner with an American carrier through codesharing.

The licensing process is expected to take about eight months, marking the next step after the US authorities granted Kenya Category One security and safety status in February.

Mbuvi Ngunze, the airline’s outgoing Chief Executive Officer, confirmed that the application had been made, adding approval might come by the end of this year, paving the way for the launch in the US summer season. “We plan to inaugurate the flights in June next year since we have to match the approval date with market trends.”

In February, the FAA gave Kenya Category One status under the agency’s International Aviation Safety Assessment Programme, paving the way for direct flights.

Kenya had sought the accreditation for nearly a decade.