Kenya will know its fate on direct flights to the US before Christmas following completion of a final audit by a US transport agency. Transport secretary James Macharia said Monday the results of the audit of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as the last point of departure would be out in the next six weeks. Officials from the US TSA were in the country two weeks ago for a four-day audit of the facility. The minister said they are looking at June next year as a possible commencement date for direct flights. Delta previously set a launch date for flights but cancelled due to security concerns. Financially embattled Kenya Airways also plans to offer direct flights.<br/>
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Yemen's national airline said Tuesday a commercial flight had landed at Aden international airport after acquiring security permits, a step that will ease a blockade on one of the poorest Arab nations. A Saudi-led military coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi movement said last week it had closed all air, land and sea ports in Yemen. A Yemenia Airways official said a flight took off from Cairo and landed in Aden Tuesday before returning to the Egyptian capital. He said the flights would increase gradually over the coming days. Transport minister Mourad al-Halimi had said Yemenia flights to the pro-Saudi-government-held cities of Aden and Seiyun would resume Sunday, but the carrier said it did not have the necessary permits to fly.<br/>