Kenya cleared for direct flights to the US after a decade

The US Federal Aviation Administration says Kenya has complied with international safety standards and can have direct flights to the US after waiting for more than a decade.

The FAA in a statement today said Kenya has received a category 1 rating under the agency's International Aviation Safety Assessment Program. With that rating, Kenyan air carriers can establish services to the US.

Kenya's transport minister James Macharia described the category 1 status as a major milestone in the country's aviation industry.

Kenya is East Africa's largest economy. Kenya transformed its main airport after a 2013 fire destroyed its international terminal because the airport had only one fire engine working.

Some rescuers, including police, looted ATMs and forex bureaus instead of fighting the blaze.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)