British Prime Minister Theresa May has arrived in Nairobi for a state visit. Mrs May landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport boarding a chartered Royal Air Force Voyager from Lagos, Nigeria, at 6.30am. It has been 30 years since a British Prime minister visited the country.
She was accompanied by a host of business moguls and investors keen to strike deals with Kenya and the rest of Africa. The PM is set to hold a joint press briefing with President Kenyatta at State House from 11am.
The Voyager is the RAF’s sole air-to-air refueling (AAR) tanker and also operates as a strategic air transport. The aircraft is in service as the Voyager KC.Mk 2, equipped with two underwing pods for refueling fast jets, and as the Voyager KC.Mk 3, with an additional centreline hose for use by large aircraft.
During its launch, the Ministry of Defence said the new seating would allow the aircraft, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, to transport large business delegations.
It was refitted at a cost of £10 million to provide transport for ministers and members of the Royal Family.
The aircraft, based on the Airbus A330, has been fitted with 58 business seats but is still be able to carry out its main task of air-to-air refueling missions.
The plane allows for secure communications that cannot be intercepted. The Voyager, which is based on an Airbus A330, will be housed at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. It will also be available for the Royal family for official overseas visits.
It has two pilots who are supported by a cabin crew. The VIP area has spacious reclining seats with curtains to create a makeshift cabin a personal light and a table.
It has a AFT seating area for Press and TV crews. It has no weapons but has a missile warning system.
