Kenya Airports Authority Plans Major Expansion at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
- Mar 6
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 9
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has issued a tender for the expansion and modernization of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya’s main international gateway and regional aviation hub. The project aims to address congestion and support future growth in passenger and cargo traffic.
JKIA handled approximately 8.93 million passengers in 2025, exceeding its designed annual capacity of about 7.5 million passengers. Rising demand and increasing air cargo volumes have created pressure on the airport’s runway system, terminal facilities and aircraft parking areas.
The modernization program includes upgrades to the existing runway, construction of additional taxiways, and improvements to passenger terminal infrastructure. Authorities also plan to digitize passenger processing systems such as check-in, security screening, immigration and baggage handling to improve operational efficiency.
In the long term, the project will include the development of a new passenger terminal capable of handling up to 10 million passengers per year, along with expanded apron areas and additional airport support infrastructure. The expansion is expected to strengthen JKIA’s role as a major aviation and logistics hub in East Africa.
Air cargo volumes at the airport are also projected to grow significantly, increasing from about 407,000 tonnes in 2025 to more than 860,000 tonnes by 2045, reflecting rising demand for air freight and logistics services in the region.
Image source: transport.go.ke
