Kenya
When it comes to domestic air travel in Africa, Nairobi is growing fast, compared to other African cities. According to the travel data company Forward Keys, Nairobi’s domestic air travel recorded 22% growth in 2017, beating its closest competitors Tunis and Addis Ababa, which grew by 14% and 9% respectively. In addition, long-haul international flights to Nairobi grew by 8%, making it the only major African city where domestic air travel is outpacing international traffic.
Kenya Airways moved to a negative bottom-line six years ago and had to restructure a 2$ billion debt in November 20171. Low-cost airlines are taking off across the region, serving routes that cater to the continent’s growing middle class2.
Kenya has had focus on safety in the previous years, and has moved to a score of 78% in the recent safety audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization, meaning that Kenya has been approved for category one status by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and has direct flights to and from the U.S.3 The inaugural flight was on 28th October 2018 and Kenya is one of eight African countries with direct flights to the US.
Vision 2030, which is the government’s development blueprint, includes the government’s initiative of equipping every county with a functional airstrip. Furthermore, Kenya Airways has pledged to invest heavily in training of aeronautical engineers to arrest the high turnover in the field.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director General Captain Gilbert Kibe recently informed that a new set of regulations will soon be presented to parliament for approval on “the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones into current and evolving traffic management systems.”4
The following information is captured in the 2nd MTP report of Kenya Government Vision 2030.
Expansion of the route network: The government will negotiate and conclude additional Bilateral Air Agreement Services (BASAs) and ratify new international conventions and protocols aiming at expanding the route network of Kenya Airways and other designated national carriers.
Expansion and modernization of aviation facilities: The government aims at making Kenya the aviation hub in the African region through construction and modernization of aviation facilities and targets annual capacity of 45 million passengers.
Key projects
- Reconstruction of terminal two at JKIA
- Construction of green-field terminal, second runway and associated facilities at JKIA
- Improvement of terminal and airside capacity at Kisumu International Airport
- Improvement of safety and support operations at Moi International Airport
- Modernization of Air Navigation Services Phase II & III and construction
- Rehabilitation and maintenance of airstrips and airports.
Development: International airports at Lamu, Isiolo and Lokichoggio.
Policy, legal and institutional reforms: Establish an autonomous national aircraft accident investigation agency.
Sources
1 African Business Central, June 19, 2017. Kenya to convert $243M debt in Kenya Airways into equity
2 African Business Central, June 15, 2015. 10 budget airlines changing Africa’s skies.
3 Daily Nation, July 23, 2018. Kenya’s aviation safety up ahead of direct US flights.
4 Capital news, September 5, 2018. New regulations to be presented to Parliament for the use of drones – KCAA.