"Kenyan Airport to Change Face in Two Years"

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Airport to Change Face in Two Years
Kenya - The Nation


Nairobi, -- The Kenya Airports Authority has embarked on a two-year
programme of re-organising the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
(JKIA) to accommodate more passengers. 

The re-organisation of the main terminal building and transfer of
domestic operations to old airport will also see a total separation of
departing and arriving international passengers. 

"On completion of the proposed developments, the airport shall be able
to handle up to 6 million passengers per year compared to the current
volumes which are close 3.2 million per year," Mr George Muhoho, the
managing director of Kenya Airports Authority said. 

He also said they will create an additional 13 aircraft parking lots
while the transfer of domestic flights to the old Embakasi Airport will
free terminal three to create additional transit lounges at JKIA and
enhance security. 

Muhoho, who was speaking at the Africa Symposium at Hilton Hotel,
Nairobi, said there was need for improvement of the airport's facilities
which were developed in 1978 for a maximum handling capacity of 2.5
million passengers and 100,000 tonnes of freight per annum. 

He said over the past years, significant growth had been recorded. 

He said there was need to replace obsolete security equipment, instal
six new passenger boarding bridges, replace escalators and lifts to ease
passenger flow and rehabilitate existing baggage conveyers. 

The common use terminal equipment system, said the MD, had been
installed to assist in the checking-in of passengers -- which has
resulted in better utilisation of the available counters. 

Mr Muhoho said although the improvements had significantly eased
operations at the airport, there has been further demand for increased
apron and terminal building capacities. 

He said there shall be additional room created for passenger holding
lounges, the apron at the new domestic terminal shall be paved, the
hydrant system at the domestic terminal shall be made functional to
enable aircraft re-fuelling and additional taxiways shall be provided to
improve on airside handling capacity. 

He said they were fencing the external perimeter fence and the
reinforcing the existing fence to enhance security. 

Muhoho said they were hopeful that they will attain the US Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) category one status once the programme is
complete -- and it will open the door for direct flights between Nairobi
and US and vice versa.


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