The government unveiled an ambitious expansion and modernization plan for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), aimed at easing congestion, boosting capacity, and positioning Kenya as a leading aviation and logistics hub in Africa.
The multi-phased project, spearheaded by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), follows the completion of an Integrated Master Plan and Feasibility Study in February 2026.
The study outlines both immediate upgrades to existing facilities and long-term infrastructure expansion to meet growing passenger and cargo demand.
JKIA, Kenya’s primary international gateway and the regional hub for Kenya Airways (KQ), handled approximately 8.93 million passengers in 2025—surpassing its designed annual capacity of 7.5 million.
The airport operates a single runway and a terminal complex that has been expanded incrementally over the years, leading to space constraints and circulation challenges.
During peak hours, congestion affects the runway system, aircraft parking stands, passenger terminals, and access roads, impacting operational efficiency and passenger experience.
Traffic projections indicate passenger numbers will grow to about 22.31 million annually by 2045, reflecting an average growth rate of 4.6 percent. Air cargo volumes are also expected to more than double—from 407,214 tons in 2025 to 860,400 tons by 2045.
To address immediate capacity bottlenecks, KAA plans to upgrade the existing runway and construct a partial parallel taxiway, build two rapid exit taxiways and a runway-end exit taxiway to reduce aircraft runway occupancy time and reconfigure and selectively expand existing terminal facilities.
It will also modernize passenger processing systems, including check-in, security screening, immigration, and baggage handling and optimize vehicle parking and improve landside circulation.
These measures are expected to enhance runway throughput, reduce delays, and improve overall passenger flow.
Beyond optimization of current infrastructure, the project includes the development of a new passenger terminal capable of handling an additional 10 million passengers annually, with room for future expansion.
Other planned investments include expansion of taxiways, aprons, and aircraft support facilities, upgrades to air traffic control systems, firefighting stations, cargo handling areas, maintenance, fuel, and utility infrastructure and improved access roads and new parking facilities to serve the expanded airport.
Collectively, these developments are intended to create a more resilient and efficient aviation hub capable of supporting sustained growth.
In a broader economic strategy, KAA also intends to establish an Airport City and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) around JKIA. The initiative aims to attract logistics firms, manufacturers, agro-processors, pharmaceutical companies, and e-commerce operators that benefit from proximity to air cargo facilities.
The Airport City concept will incorporate business parks, corporate offices, hotels, convention centers, and mixed-use developments, creating a planned aviation-driven urban zone. Officials say the initiative will generate employment, attract foreign and domestic investment, and diversify revenue streams for both the airport and the country.
Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir described the planned expansion as a strategic national initiative designed to safeguard JKIA’s role as a premier regional gateway while enhancing service quality and operational efficiency.
The government, through the Ministry of Transport and KAA, has pledged transparent implementation of the project and continued engagement with stakeholders as development progresses.
With demand for air travel and cargo services rising steadily, the expansion of JKIA marks one of Kenya’s most significant infrastructure undertakings in recent years, reinforcing its ambition to remain East Africa’s leading aviation hub.
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