Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) Information
(Kenya, KE, East Africa)
The focus for aviation in Central and East Africa is Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), set in Nairobi and the largest and busiest airport in the region. Named after the country's first president and independence activist Jomo Kenyatta, this facility is a hub for Kenya's flag carrier, Kenya Airways, as well as regional airlines Fly450 and JetLink Express.
International flights from Nairobi are offered by Kenya Airways to Bangkok,
Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London,
Paris, Rome and a number of major African and Middle Eastern cities, with KLM flying to Amsterdam, Korean Air to Seoul, Swiss International to Zurich, Brussels Airlines to Brussels, and British Airways to London. Cairo, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Mauritius, Entebbe and Bahrain are covered by their respective national airlines.
The terminal of Nairobi's busy Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was constructed during the 1970s and is arranged in three sections, with Units 1 and 2 being reserved for international departures and arrivals, and Unit 1 handling domestic passengers. The Customs and Immigration area is located on the ground floor, with another immigration desk located in the International Arrivals area on the first floor.
The entire complex recently underwent a major expansion aimed at increasing both aircraft movements and passenger handling, as well as enhancing passenger services. At present, annual passenger throughput stands at over five million.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Address: Airport South Road, Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya, KE, Africa
Tel: +254 20 661 1000
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is located in Nairobi's south-eastern suburb of Embakasi, some 15 km / 9 miles from the centre of the city and adjacent to a large scrub and bushland wildlife park, which is home to lions and other protected African species. A number of hotels are located on the airport's approach road and offer views over the park from their guest rooms.
Facilities:
- Several banks, including Barclays, are situated within the main terminal hall
- A Forex currency exchange bureau is found in the terminal's main area
- Mother and baby rooms and a first-aid service are located in the terminal building
- An Internet café is found in the Departures area
- Several airline lounges and a VIP lounge are located in the Departures areas of the terminal
- Car hire desks are found in the International Arrivals hall, including Payless, Naz, Avis and Budget
- Limited facilities for the disabled, with those affected advised to contact their airline for special assistance
- The Simba Restaurant is found on the terminal's fifth floor, with a Home Park café in Unit 1, a pub and eatery in Unit 2, and a snack bar in Unit 3
- Information desks are located around the terminal in all areas
- Long- and short-term parking is found adjacent to the terminal building
Cars
Travel by hire car to Nairobi's city centre is straightforward via the Mombasa Highway A109, which runs adjacent to the airport and passes by the Imara Diama Railway Station, the Plainsview Estate and the Akiba Estate. This route runs direct to the downtown area and is well signposted. The journey should take around 20 minutes, although traffic can be heavy in the city itself.
Buses
The scheduled City Bus 34 runs regularly from outside Unit 1 and Unit 2 direct to Nairobi city centre, taking around 45 minutes. Worth noting, there is a risk to your belongings on this route, as pickpockets are known to target the service. Upmarket hotels frequently provide shuttle services to their guests, while the Regional Luxury Shuttle company offers private transportation from the airport to a raft of Nairobi city centre hotels.
Taxis
Taxi travel is the easiest way to get to the city, but passengers should avoid the taxi, hotel and safari touts vying for business at the airport. You should also make sure that you are not overcharged, by booking a ride at the official taxi desk at the Arrivals hall entrance.