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Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), located in Nairobi, Kenya, is a vital aviation hub for East Africa, serving as a key connection point for both international and domestic flights. Below is a detailed analysis of flight departures, offering insights into typical schedules, airline operations, and key trends.
Flight Departures from JKIA:
On average, around 126 passenger flights depart daily from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, making it one of the busiest airports in Africa. The airport serves as a key hub for Kenya Airways, which operates approximately 462 scheduled take-offs weekly. This robust schedule highlights JKIA’s significant role in facilitating both regional and international travel, with frequent flights to major destinations such as Dubai, London, and New York
Morning Departures
Early Morning Flights (6:00 AM – 8:00 AM):
- Domestic Focus: The early morning schedule at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is dominated by domestic flights. Key routes include multiple flights to Mombasa (MBA), Eldoret (EDL), and Kisumu (KIS), primarily operated by Kenya Airways, Jambojet, and Fly540. For instance, Kenya Airways (KQ600) to Mombasa at 6:30 AM and Jambojet (JM8600) to Mombasa at the same time highlight the frequency and importance of domestic connectivity.
- Regional Connectivity: Alongside domestic routes, there are regional flights to neighboring countries. For example, the 6:00 AM Ethiopian Airlines (ET309) flight to Addis Ababa (ADD) and the 7:00 AM Kenya Airways (KQ2720) to Harare (HRE) demonstrate the airport’s role as a regional hub.
- See Morning Live Departures here
Mid-Morning Flights (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM):
- Increased International Departures: As the morning progresses, there is a noticeable increase in international departures. Flights such as Kenya Airways (KQ490) to Zanzibar (ZNZ) at 8:00 AM and Kenya Airways (KQ100) to London (LHR) at 8:55 AM are indicative of the airport’s international reach.
- Short-Haul Regional Flights: There are also frequent short-haul regional flights to destinations like Entebbe, Uganda (UR203 at 8:00 AM) and Kigali, Rwanda (KQ470 at 7:40 AM).
- See Mid-Morning Live Departures here
Afternoon Departures
Early Afternoon Flights (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM):
- Balance of Domestic and International: The early afternoon schedule shows a balance between domestic and international flights. Kenya Airways (KQ762) to Johannesburg (JNB) at 12:35 PM and Jambojet (JM8642) to Malindi (MYD) at 11:40 AM are good examples.
- Popular African Destinations: Key African destinations such as Lagos, Nigeria (KQ532 at 8:15 AM) and Accra, Ghana (KQ510 at 11:30 AM) are served during this period, highlighting JKIA’s role in intra-African connectivity.
- See Early Afternoon Live Departures here
Late Afternoon Flights (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM):
- Peak for Long-Haul Departures: This period includes peak times for long-haul international departures. Emirates (EK720) to Dubai at 4:35 PM and Kenya Airways (KQ202) to Mumbai at 4:45 PM show the global connections facilitated by JKIA.
- Continued Regional and Domestic Services: Despite the focus on long-haul flights, there remains a strong presence of regional and domestic services, such as Kenya Airways (KQ670) to Kisumu at 5:25 PM and Jambojet (JM8606) to Mombasa at 5:35 PM.
- See Late Afternoon Departures here
Evening Departures
Early Evening Flights (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM):
- Heavy Regional Traffic: The early evening is characterized by heavy regional traffic, with frequent flights to cities like Addis Ababa (ET319 at 6:00 PM) and Kigali (WB401 at 6:20 PM). This period is critical for connecting passengers within East Africa.
- Cargo and Specialized Flights: There are also specialized flights, including cargo services like Astral Aviation (8V504) to Hong Kong at 6:00 PM, demonstrating the airport’s importance for freight operations.
- See Mid-Afternoon Live Departures here
Late Evening Flights (9:00 PM – 12:00 AM):
- Focus on Long-Haul International Flights: The late evening period is dominated by long-haul international flights. Key departures include Air France (AF813) to Paris at 10:45 PM, British Airways (BA64) to London at 10:45 PM, and Lufthansa (LH591) to Frankfurt at 11:10 PM. These flights are essential for connecting Nairobi to major global hubs.
- Strategic Night Flights: Kenya Airways operates strategic night flights to major destinations such as New York (KQ2 at 11:35 PM) and Amsterdam (KL566 at 11:59 PM), maximizing passenger connectivity to Europe and North America.
- See Evening Live Departures here
Analysis and Insights
Operational Efficiency:
- JKIA’s departure schedule demonstrates a well-balanced mix of domestic, regional, and international flights. The strategic timing of long-haul international flights in the late evening and early morning optimizes passenger connections across different time zones.
Airline Operations:
- Kenya Airways: As the national carrier, Kenya Airways dominates the schedule with numerous flights across all time periods, highlighting its extensive network and critical role in JKIA’s operations.
- International Carriers: Major international airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines enhance JKIA’s connectivity to the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
Passenger Convenience:
- The spread of flights throughout the day ensures that passengers have multiple options for travel, whether for business, tourism, or cargo. The airport’s infrastructure supports efficient operations and minimizes delays, contributing to a positive travel experience.
In summary, JKIA’s flight departure schedule reflects its strategic importance as a major hub in East Africa, offering extensive connectivity across the region and the globe.
Typical Departures from JKIA throughout the day:
Here’s a comprehensive table summarizing typical departures from JKIA (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) from early morning to late evening:
| Time | Flight | Destination | Airline | Aircraft | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | JM8650 | Kisumu (KIS) | Jambojet | DH4 | Scheduled |
| 6:30 AM | KQ600 | Mombasa (MBA) | Kenya Airways | E90 | Estimated dep. 6:30 AM |
| 6:40 AM | 6E1854 | Mumbai (BOM) | IndiGo | A20N | Scheduled |
| 7:00 AM | KQ2720 | Harare (HRE) | Kenya Airways Cargo | B733 | Estimated dep. 7:00 AM |
| 7:20 AM | KQ400 | Addis Ababa (ADD) | Kenya Airways | E190 | Estimated dep. 7:20 AM |
| 7:45 AM | KQ760 | Johannesburg (JNB) | Kenya Airways | B788 | Estimated dep. 7:45 AM |
| 8:00 AM | UR203 | Entebbe (EBB) | Uganda Airlines | CR9 | Scheduled |
| 8:55 AM | KQ100 | London (LHR) | Kenya Airways | B788 | Estimated dep. 8:55 AM |
| 9:00 AM | KQ2722 | Lusaka (LUN) | Kenya Airways | 73Y | Scheduled |
| 10:45 AM | JM8692 | Ukunda (UKA) | Jambojet | DH4 | Scheduled |
| 11:00 AM | KQ2522 | Douala (DLA) | Kenya Airways | 73Y | Scheduled |
| 12:00 PM | JM8540 | Goma (GOM) | Jambojet | DH4 | Scheduled |
| 12:30 PM | KQ250 | Victoria (SEZ) | Kenya Airways | 73H | Estimated dep. 12:30 PM |
| 1:00 PM | WB453 | Kigali (KGL) | RwandAir | DH4 | Scheduled |
| 2:00 PM | JM8604 | Mombasa (MBA) | Jambojet | DH4 | Scheduled |
| 3:00 PM | W11097 | Juba (JUB) | – | M82 | Scheduled |
| 3:30 PM | CZ6044 | Changsha (CSX) | China Southern Airlines | 789 | Scheduled |
| 4:35 PM | EK720 | Dubai (DXB) | Emirates | B77W | Estimated dep. 4:35 PM |
| 5:10 PM | KQ310 | Dubai (DXB) | Hi Fly | A333 | Estimated dep. 5:10 PM |
| 6:00 PM | ET319 | Addis Ababa (ADD) | Ethiopian Airlines | A359 | Scheduled |
| 7:00 PM | JM8608 | Mombasa (MBA) | Jambojet | DH4 | Scheduled |
| 8:45 PM | KQ204 | Mumbai (BOM) | Kenya Airways | B738 | Estimated dep. 8:45 PM |
| 9:10 PM | PW732 | Dar-es-Salaam (DAR) | Precision Air | AT7 | Scheduled |
| 10:45 PM | AF813 | Paris (CDG) | Air France | 772 | Scheduled |
| 11:35 PM | KQ2 | New York (JFK) | Kenya Airways | B788 | Estimated dep. 11:35 PM |
This table includes a variety of domestic, regional, and international flights throughout the day, providing a comprehensive overview of typical departures from JKIA.
Check departures from JKIA from flightradar24 here.