Overloaded and Outdated: 4 Reasons JKIA Desperately Needs Expansion

JKIA Desperately Needs Expansion”“Overloaded and Outdated: 4 Clear Signs It’s Time to Expand JKIA”

As Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) continues to experience rising passenger and cargo volumes, its infrastructure is facing significant strain. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the key challenges that underscore the urgent need for expansion. These issues include runway capacity limits, aging terminals, and operational inefficiencies that hinder JKIA’s ability to handle future demand.

4 Reasons to Expand JKIA Airport

1. To Avoid Single Runway Bottleneck

JKIA currently operates with only one runway, accommodating a maximum of 30 air transport movements per hour (ATM/h). This capacity is close to saturation, meaning that the airport is already nearing its operational limits for takeoffs and landings.

• Short-term capacity increase: In the short to medium term, runway capacity can be increased by approximately 15%, allowing the airport to handle about 34-35 movements per hour. However, this is a temporary solution and will only defer capacity issues for a few years.
• Forecasted traffic growth: Based on recent projections, passenger volumes at JKIA are expected to grow from 8.3 million in 2019 (pre-COVID) to over 20 million by 2055. Cargo traffic is also anticipated to rise significantly as Nairobi solidifies its position as a regional trade hub.
  • With this level of growth, the single runway will be unable to handle the increase in traffic within the next 10-15 years, leading to operational delays, longer taxi times, and potential flight disruptions.
• Need for a second runway: To address this, a second runway is essential by 2035. Building a new runway is a long-term infrastructure project, typically requiring 8-10 years from planning to commissioning. Without this investment, JKIA will struggle to maintain its role as the primary aviation gateway for East Africa, and it could risk losing business to regional competitors such as Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport or Kigali’s Bugesera Airport, which are expanding rapidly.

Growth in Cargo Volumes

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is a major cargo hub, handling 358 kilotons (kTn) annually, making it the largest sub-Saharan airport by cargo volume and second in Africa after Cairo. With cargo volumes expected to double to 740 kTn by 2055, the airport’s current infrastructure will be insufficient to meet this rising demand.

Current Capacity and Challenges

JKIA’s cargo terminals are near capacity, leading to congestion, delayed handling times, and apron space limitations for freighter aircraft. As cargo volumes increase, these bottlenecks will intensify, further limiting the airport’s ability to operate efficiently.

2. Aging Terminal Infrastructure

JKIA has two primary terminals—T1, subdivided into five sub-terminals (A, B, C, D, and E), and T2. While terminals T1B and T1C were enhanced in 2022, the airport still faces significant challenges with T1E and T2, which were constructed as temporary solutions following a major fire in 2013.

• Temporary lifespan: T1E and T2 were built in 2015 with a 10-year lifespan, meaning they will soon need to be decommissioned. These terminals were never intended to serve long-term operational needs, and their removal will significantly reduce JKIA’s capacity if not replaced by modern, permanent structures.
• Inadequate facilities: Both T1E and T2 have limited infrastructure, poor design, and suboptimal passenger handling capabilities, leading to bottlenecks, especially during peak travel periods. Additionally, these terminals are already showing signs of wear and tear, making it difficult to offer the level of service expected at a major international airport.
• Projected traffic and terminal inadequacy: With 20 million passengers expected annually by 2035, the current terminal capacity is insufficient. Without an immediate terminal expansion, JKIA will face overcrowding, leading to further declines in service quality and passenger satisfaction. Expansion and construction of a new terminal are critical to maintaining efficient operations and providing a world-class experience for travelers.

3. Operational Inefficiencies

Operational inefficiencies at JKIA are another significant concern, affecting both passengers and airlines. These inefficiencies are largely due to poor infrastructure layout and the lack of modern facilities to streamline processes.

• Disconnected baggage handling systems: One of the most significant operational challenges is the absence of interconnected baggage systems across the terminal buildings. This forces manual handling and transfers for connecting flights, leading to longer wait times for passengers and increased likelihood of luggage mishandling or delays. For an airport that aims to be a regional hub, this is a serious disadvantage.
  • Passenger dissatisfaction: The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) surveys, which measure customer satisfaction at airports worldwide, consistently show that JKIA scores low in terms of ease of making connections. Delays in baggage handling, confusing terminal layouts, and long walking distances between gates are frequent complaints.
• Lengthy connection times: JKIA’s current terminal layout makes it challenging for passengers to transfer between flights seamlessly, especially for international connections. As a key transit hub for flights across Africa and to Europe and Asia, the poor layout adds to transit times, making JKIA less competitive compared to more modern airports with streamlined transfer processes.
• Limited terminal capacity: The airport’s terminals are not only outdated but also unable to cope with increasing traffic. With projected passenger numbers expected to rise by over 150% in the next decade, the current capacity of the terminals is insufficient. This could result in overcrowded check-in areas, longer security wait times, and delays in boarding, further deteriorating the passenger experience.

4. Competitive Pressures from Regional Airports

As JKIA struggles with infrastructure challenges, other airports in the region are aggressively expanding their capacity and services.

• Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has already overtaken JKIA in terms of passenger numbers, driven largely by Ethiopian Airlines’ growth as a global carrier. Bole’s new terminal, completed in 2021, allows it to handle 22 million passengers per year, with plans to further expand.
• Rwanda’s Bugesera International Airport, currently under construction, is designed to handle 7 million passengers per year initially, with the ability to scale up to 14 million passengers. Its modern facilities and strategic partnerships could make it a serious competitor in the East African region.

To remain competitive and ensure Nairobi’s position as a regional hub, JKIA must invest in the necessary infrastructure, including new terminals, a second runway, and operational upgrades that enhance passenger experience.

Conclusion: The Case for Expansion

The existing challenges at JKIA—from the single runway nearing saturation to aging and inadequate terminal infrastructure, combined with operational inefficiencies—underscore the urgent need for expansion. With projected passenger traffic expected to exceed 20 million annually by 2055, JKIA must invest in modern facilities that can handle increased capacity, reduce bottlenecks, and ensure a seamless passenger experience. Without these critical expansions, JKIA risks falling behind its regional competitors, which are rapidly improving their facilities to capture a larger share of the growing African aviation market.