JKIA  Projected to Handle 25M Passengers by 2025

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) projects to handle 25 million passengers by the year 2025.

“The aviation sector in Kenya has shown unprecedented growth. Air transport lies at the heart of regional business and integration. At the moment JKIA handles an average of 6.5 million passengers and 250 million kilogrammes of cargo every year,” according to  Irungu Nyakera, Principal Secretary State for Kenya’s Transport, Infrastructure and Urban Development.

“We hope that the growth rate will return to about 9 percent this year and eventually to annual rate of 12 percent. If we attain this percentage of growth then by 2025 JKIA will be handling an estimated 25 million passengers annually.”

Nyakera disclosed that to facilitate sector’s growth, the government has committed significant investment in terminals 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E at the JKIA to increase the airports’ capacity.

Kenya’s levels of implementing the Safety and Security Standards as regards to the Universal Safety Audit Programme and Universal Security Audit Programme  currently stands at 78 percent and 89 percent respectively placing the country at among the top 5 in Africa .

Said Athman, Tourism Secretary and Captain Kibe, Director General , Kenya Civil Aviation Authority further disclosed that Kenya is keen on the implementation of the open sky policy to enhance movement within the region.

Besides the challenges that the sector faces – stiff competition, high cost of fuel, small market size, global threat of terrorism and the high cost of infrastructure development – Athman said as regards to Kenya are, “ More of perception than the real challenges.”

They were speaking at the two day conference on Modern Airports Africa Forum that looks at  unlocking Africa’s Aviation potential.