Kenya main airport undergoes major facelift

by MARIA MACHARIA
NAIROBI – KENYA’S main international airport is to undergo a Sh154,2 billion (US$1,19 billion) modernisation programme aimed at expanding its capacity, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the country’s position as a leading aviation hub in the region.

The government has moved to tighten controls and enhance operational efficiency at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), with a range of measures being implemented to improve passenger processing and overall airport operations.

Among the measures underway is the deployment of the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), which is expected to streamline airport operations through enhanced identification and management of departing and arriving flights, whether domestic or international.

Under the optimisation plan, terminals will accommodate a centralised system for airline check-in and passenger screening, as well as clear designations primarily for arrivals and departures.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) stated modernisation programme also includes the construction of a new terminal, with the contractor already on site.

The project is expected to take 54 months to complete and will provide additional capacity for approximately 10 million passengers annually.

In an update provided by the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC) during its 69th meeting, the government also announced that it is advancing implementation of the Advanced Passenger Registration (APR) system to enhance information sharing and operational situational awareness. The associated data-control facilities are expected to be operational within the next month.

The measures form part of the broader programme aimed at expanding the airport’s capacity, improving operational efficiency and strengthening Kenya’s position as a leading aviation hub in the region.

Further, KAA has begun strict enforcement of baggage-handling procedures at JKIA. Airlines are required to ensure that baggage is properly identified and processed either as passenger luggage or cargo, as applicable.

Meanwhile, passengers travelling to the capital, Nairobi, have also been advised against attaching their luggage to that of other passengers.

“Any such baggage found at the airport will be returned at the passenger’s own cost,” the Ministry of Interior and National Administration stated.

Similarly, cargo must be processed through designated terminals and in accordance with established procedures.

“Airlines found facilitating the movement of cargo outside the authorised channels will face regulatory action, including suspension where applicable,” the ministry stated.

Dr Belio Kipsang, Immigration Principal Secretary, noted the importance of close inter-agency collaboration through an intelligence-led and coordinated approach.

“We need a relationship between all the agencies. We need a coordinated approach; one that is intelligence-led, walks together, knowing that we have a common focus on ensuring that our country is able to secure itself, while ensuring that we don’t compromise on travel and trade,” Kipsang said.

JKIA handles approximately 8,8 million passengers and more than 358 kilotonnes of cargo annually, serving as a major transit hub, with approximately 60 percent of passengers processed at the facility being transit passengers.

The optimisation is expected to increase JKIA’s passenger-handling capacity from approximately 8 million to 12 million passengers annually.

– CAJ News