JKIA Expansion Gains Pace as Aviation Players Push for Safety, Common Laws

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The aviation players across the East Africa are prioritizing safety and harmonization of laws as key pillars for seamless regional air transport.

In its wake, the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) gains momentum to address the growing passenger influx and infrastructure demands to cater for them.

According to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) the tendering process for its expansion of JKIA’s runway and passenger terminals are nearing completion as the government moves to modernize the country’s busiest airport and regional aviation hub.

Speaking during the 7th East African Community (EAC) Aviation Symposium in Mombasa organized by Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), the KCAA acting director general Nicholas Bodo assured airlines and travelers that the airport’s runways remain safe and operational despite growing pressure on existing infrastructure.

JKIA last underwent major runway rehabilitation in 2016, but the rising passenger numbers and increased aircraft movement have stretched the airport’s capacity during peak hours.

The planned expansion is expected to include rehabilitation of the existing runway, construction of a partial parallel taxiway and additional rapid exit taxiways aimed at improving aircraft circulation and reducing runway occupancy time.

The authorities plan to rehabilitate existing terminals and construct a new terminal with capacity to handle an additional 10 million passengers annually.

“Hopefully if it is successful, we should have our runway rehabilitated, existing terminals rehabilitated and a new terminal of about 10 million passengers,” he said.

He warned that failure to maintain aviation infrastructure to required standards could compromise safety and operational efficiency.

According to KCAA the current terminal was originally designed to handle 7.5 million passengers annually, but the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is already handling about 8.6 million passengers.

“Which means at some point there are constraints in terms of capacity. That is why the existing terminal is going to be expanded and a new terminal will be built,” he added.

Regional aviation regulators attending the symposium also called for harmonised aviation laws and regulations across East Africa to support smoother operations and strengthen safety oversight.

Mr Bodo said regional states working under CASSOA are seeking to align regulations to enable airlines and aviation professionals operate more seamlessly within the bloc.

CASSOA acting executive director Francis Lichuma said the agency has made progress in standardising aviation safety and security regulations among partner states.

“The most worth mentioning is we have developed harmonised regulations around safety and security, harmonised examination systems around aviation,” he said.

The director noted that aviation professionals across the region are increasingly subjected to common examination standards as part of efforts to deepen regional integration.

The symposium highlighted a growing shortage of aviation professionals with regulators proposing establishment of a regional training fund to support training of pilots and engineers amid rising global demand.

KCAA chairman Brown Ondego said harmonised legislation and technical guidance would help maintain East Africa’s airspace safety standards while supporting growth in regional air travel.

“As you understand air transport is the safest way to travel in the world up to today. It is also safe because it is highly regulated,” he said.

He added that East African countries must work together to develop common regulations and technical standards to guarantee safe and seamless air transport across the region.