Explained: How much does it cost to rent a jet from Kenya to the US

President Ruto’s recent visit to the United States has been much talked about.

The big question was how much it cost for the president and his delegation to travel on a private jet to the US and back.

While the cost remains unknown with many questions being raised, the head of state said on Sunday that the amount spent on the plane was less than that spent on national carrier Kenya Airways.

“Fellow Kenyans, I am concerned about your transportation options to the United States. As a responsible steward of public resources and in line with my commitment that we live within our means and take the lead in making this happen, it is now less expensive than traveling with Kenya Airways,” he said. The President said.

Ruto, however, did not disclose how much he spent on the rented jet or how much he paid for using Kenya Airways’ flights.

The Royal Jet used by the president seats 34 people and reports have estimated the cost of renting a Boeing business jet like the one used by President Ruto on his US visit to be $18,000 an hour, or roughly 2.358 million shillings.

The journey from Kenya to Atlanta in the US, where Ruto first stopped, will take about 19 hours and at this rate would cost about Sh71,404,500 one way.

Additional costs such as parking fees, length of stay, landing and take-off taxes etc. will drive up the total cost.

A spot check by The Star on Kenya Airways’ website revealed that a return business class ticket to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport costs 847,715 shillings.

Multiplying this amount by 30 business class seats on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner comes to Sh25,431,450.

Kenya Airways said the Dreamliner also has 204 economy class seats, with a round-trip ticket priced at Sh264,230, bringing the total fare to Sh53,902,920.

Renting an entire KQ plane means paying for every available seat, bringing the total cost of a round trip to the US to Sh79,334,370.

Ticket prices drop depending on when you book.

There will also be additional costs such as parking fees and the number of days you fly, which will also be added to the final price of your rental.

This amount also includes take-off and landing taxes.

If the president had travelled with the national carrier, he would have had to incur additional costs for travel within the US, as that was his first stop.Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, later Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC

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