• Kenya plans a new terminal and runway at JKIA to add 15 million passenger capacity by 2029.

• The airport handled 8.8 million travelers in 2025, exceeding its original 8 million design limit.

• Financing hurdles and rising competition from Rwanda and Tanzania add pressure to deliver.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority unveiled plans late last week to expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, aiming to add capacity for 15 million additional passengers.

The project includes the construction of a new terminal and a new runway by 2029. Once completed, aircraft handling capacity is expected to rise to about 63 movements per hour, up from 14 currently.

Originally designed to process 8 million passengers annually, JKIA handled 8.6 million travelers in 2024 and 8.8 million in 2025, exceeding its theoretical capacity. The strain on infrastructure comes as regional air traffic continues to recover steadily after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kenyan authorities say the upgrade will strengthen JKIA’s regional competitiveness, improve service quality, and stimulate both passenger and cargo traffic. The broader objective is to attract more international airlines and reinforce Nairobi’s position as a strategic gateway to East Africa.

Financing challenges and regional competition

The expansion plan has been under discussion for several years but has faced funding constraints. In 2024, India’s Adani Group proposed a $1.85 billion investment to expand and modernize the airport in exchange for a 30-year concession. The proposal triggered strong opposition from airport workers, who criticized certain terms as unfavorable to national interests, leading to the cancellation of preliminary agreements between the government and the investor.

The renewed plan comes amid intensifying regional competition. Rwanda is developing a new airport in Bugesera with a target capacity of 14 million passengers, including 7 million in its first phase, scheduled to open in 2027. Tanzania has expanded capacity at its main airport in Dar es Salaam to 8 million passengers and continues to modernize infrastructure, including ongoing works on Terminal 2.

Against this backdrop, delays in JKIA’s expansion could weaken Kenya’s position in a regional aviation market where neighboring countries are accelerating investments to capture a growing share of air traffic.

Henoc Dossa