Several local airlines are preparing to reroute part of their flight schedules from Wilson Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as rehabilitation works get underway, a move expected to raise operating costs for carriers and inconvenience travellers.
The Kenya Airports Authority has begun major upgrades at Wilson Airport, focusing on runway resurfacing, aprons and pavement improvements. The works will affect normal operations at the facility, prompting airlines to adjust where some flights take off and land.
Wilson has grown increasingly popular with passengers because of its closeness to Nairobi’s central business district and surrounding residential areas such as Karen, Lang’ata, South B, South C and Kilimani. It hosts several domestic operators, including Safarilink Aviation, Renegade Air, Airkenya Express and Skyward Express, and ranks among the busiest airports in East and Central Africa by aircraft movements. Domestic services account for roughly 90 percent of its traffic.
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Safarilink Aviation chief executive Alex Avedi said airlines are reassessing their flight operations to fit around the ongoing construction. He noted that, during the works, all take-offs and landings will be handled on a single runway instead of two. Safarilink has already shifted some flights to JKIA from February 3.
According to Mr Avedi, the changes have come with extra costs, including the need to operate simultaneously at both airports and to transport passengers between Wilson and JKIA. He added that only part of the airline’s operations, mainly involving larger aircraft, will be moved to JKIA for the duration of the upgrades.
Industry sources say other domestic carriers are also expected to divert some flights to JKIA as rehabilitation at Wilson progresses.
