Kenya unveils JKIA master plan with new terminal and runway expansion

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has formally presented the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Integrated Master Plan to the Kenya Aviation Workers Union as part of ongoing stakeholder consultations supporting the airport’s long term modernisation and expansion.

The presentation was chaired by the Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace, Terry Mbaika, and forms part of wider Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments to guide sustainable infrastructure development at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).

Airport expansion for Kenya

The Master Plan details traffic forecasts, demand and capacity analysis, development scenarios, the preferred expansion strategy, phased infrastructure delivery and capital expenditure projections alongside financial feasibility assessments.

Under the proposed programme, the Government intends to deliver a new terminal complex in two phases. Phase I will provide capacity for 10 million passengers annually, followed by a further 5 million in Phase II, bringing total ultimate terminal capacity to 15 million passengers per year.

JKIA handled 8.6 million passengers in 2024 and 8.8 million in 2025, exceeding its current design capacity of 8 million passengers annually. With traffic increasing by approximately one million passengers each year, existing facilities are forecast to reach operational constraints within three years.

Airfield expansion forms a central pillar of the plan. A new runway is targeted for completion by 2029, alongside wider airfield upgrades designed to increase declared capacity to approximately 63 aircraft movements per hour, compared with the current 14 movements per hour.

Terminal development will be complemented by landside infrastructure enhancements, including expanded access roads, improved circulation and modernised support facilities. The project will be delivered in phases to maintain operational continuity, with existing terminal facilities rehabilitated and optimised during construction.

KAA stated that the expansion will strengthen JKIA’s position among regional hub airports, improve operational efficiency and enhance service delivery. The programme is also expected to stimulate airport based commercial activity, support cargo growth and generate employment across the aviation value chain.

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