Nairobi Airport Faces Disruptions Amidst Expansion Plans
Nairobi, Kenya – Recent heavy rainfall has caused significant disruptions to flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), while a major expansion project is underway to address growing congestion and solidify the airport’s position as a leading aviation hub in East Africa.
Flight Disruptions Due to Heavy Rainfall
Flights in and out of JKIA have been affected by severe weather conditions, with some roads in the capital city also submerged due to the heavy rains as reported by Yahoo News. The disruptions are impacting both international and domestic travel.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: A Key Regional Hub
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (IATA: NBO, ICAO: HKJK) is Kenya’s largest airport and serves as a crucial gateway to East Africa. Located in the Embakasi suburb, approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) southeast of Nairobi’s central business district according to Wikipedia, JKIA offers both international and domestic flights and boasts modern facilities as highlighted by the Kenya Airports Authority.
In 2024, JKIA handled over 9 million passengers, making it the sixth busiest airport in Africa by passenger traffic . The airport also processed over 364,000 tonnes of cargo and mail, ranking it as the top airport in freight traffic on the continent .
$2 Billion Expansion Project Underway
To address increasing passenger numbers and maintain its competitive edge, the Kenyan government is investing $2 billion in a massive expansion project centered on JKIA as reported by Construction Review Online. The project is slated to initiate in early 2026.
The expansion is driven by the require to alleviate congestion; JKIA handled approximately 8.6 million passengers in 2025, exceeding its design capacity of 7.5 million . This strain on infrastructure threatens Kenya’s role as a regional logistics hub.
Regional Competition
While Kenya’s expansion focuses on improving existing infrastructure, Ethiopia is undertaking a much larger project. Bishoftu International Airport, with a price tag of $12.5 billion, is designed to develop into Africa’s largest aviation hub, with a planned capacity of 110 million passengers annually by 2030 .