Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – JKIA is the biggest airport in East and Central Africa, and the focal point for major aviation activities in the region. Located east of Nairobi, JKIA has direct flight connections to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Far East and numerous African destinations. The airport has risen from humble beginnings since it began operations in 1978 to become a leading regional hub in the African aviation industry.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – JKIA serves 49 scheduled airlines and five million passengers a year. The airport is being upgraded and once the works are complete, it will have ultra-modern facilities and be able to handle more than nine million passengers.

In 2009, and for the second year running, JKIA won the prestigious Routes Airport Marketing Award (African Category). The award was presented at the World Route Event, attended by more than 2,000 participants from leading airport and airlines in the world. The award was given after a thorough peer review by airlines, the key stakeholders in airports, for excellence in marketing and world-class service.

Like other major airports, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – JKIA was hard-hit by the effects of the world economic downturn. Airlines sought to stay afloat by cutting capacity, withdrawing from some routes, merging or even shutting down operations. Against this background, the marketing action at JKIA focused on retaining customers, maintaining market share and providing quality customer service.

This saw a growth in passenger movement of three per cent, from 4.784 million to 4.922 million, and a five per cent increase in aircraft movement. To provide better amenities for customer comfort and improve the image of the airport, KAA is undertaking a $200 million (Sh16 billion) expansion programme that will result in additional aprons and taxiways, new terminal buildings, new retail areas, multi-storey car parks and refurbishment of terminal buildings. Another expansion programme will be under a public-private partnership. The project includes setting up an airport exhibition centre comprising a five-star and a four-star hotel, convention centre, exhibition centre, five office blocks, a VIP/tourist hospital and apartments.

In the public-private partnership, three freight-handling warehouses, a fresh produce centre and cold rooms are under construction. Facilities and services at JKIA include duty free shops, bars and restaurants, passenger facilitation and coordination, airport lounges, foreign exchange, information, wireless, Internet, postal, advertising and banking services. Others are business centres; children’s play area, courier services, left luggage, prayer area, taxi, car rentals and tour agencies. The airport also has hotel booking booths, aviation fuel uplift, air charters and brokerage, cargo consolidation, flower and catering services (in-flight catering)

Aircraft technical services, clearing and forwarding, ground handling (aircraft and cargo), salon and VIP lounges are the other services provided as are First Aid, ambulance and vaccination Services