Silverstone Air has launched a direct flight to Mombasa from Kisumu and vice versa.
The official ceremony was held on Saturday where Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi welcomed the airline.
"We greatly welcome Silverstone Air Service as they launch the first direct flight from Mombasa to Kisumu. The direct link between Mombasa and Kisumu opens new possibilities for business and tourism," he said.
He said a direct link to Mombasa from Kisumu was a big boon for both cities due to Kisumu’s strategic position on the Lake Victoria shores and on the fringes of the Great Lakes Region.
"Kisumu being a major hub in the West Kenya region, this new link shall also expand the range of opportunities into the larger Western Kenya region by introducing safe, reliable transport to and from Mombasa."
Fast-paced changes in the structure of the economy driven by devolution and new economic opportunities such as oil and mining, will change the way people interact and do business according to Kingi.
With air transport becoming cheaper and more accessible, Kingi said the demands of business can be met easily.
"We believe that with this reliable transport, we shall also harness cooperation between the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani and the Lake Region Economic Bloc for the mutual development of our people," he noted on Saturday.
On tourism, Kingi said the potential for local tourism is also enhanced by the new link since the tourism industry can snap up the opportunity brought on by the new link to market Mombasa in Nyanza and Western Region.
"We can also diversify the product offered to international visitors by introducing them to the uniqueness of the West Kenya tourist circuit."
Addressing stakeholders, he noted that the County Government of Mombasa was in the process of expounding and exploiting the blue economy in the entire value chain.
"Soon Silverstone air services will fly our tasty sea salt water fish from the coastal region to the west. We remain committed to improving the business climate in Mombasa to enable new opportunities as this, to thrive to their full potential."