• New terminal and runway planned to add 15 million passengers by 2029

• JKIA handled 8.8 million travelers in 2025, exceeding original design capacity

• Expansion faces financing hurdles amid rising competition from Rwanda and Tanzania

Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority has unveiled a plan to expand Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), aiming to add capacity for 15 million additional passengers. The project includes the construction of a new terminal and a second runway by 2029, which would raise aircraft movements to about 63 per hour, up from 14 currently.

Originally designed to handle 8 million passengers annually, JKIA processed 8.6 million travelers in 2024 and 8.8 million in 2025, surpassing its theoretical capacity. The strain on existing facilities comes as regional air traffic continues to recover strongly following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kenyan authorities say the modernization will enhance JKIA’s regional competitiveness, improve service quality and boost both passenger and cargo traffic. The goal is also to attract more international airlines and strengthen Nairobi’s role as a strategic gateway to East Africa.

Financing hurdles and rising regional rivalry

The expansion plan is not new and has faced persistent financing constraints. In 2024, India’s Adani Group proposed investing $1.85 billion to upgrade and expand the airport in exchange for a 30-year concession. The proposal triggered strong opposition from airport workers, who argued that certain clauses were 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 is continuing modernization efforts, including upgrades to Terminal 2.

In this context, 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