The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced the approval of a Sh 16 Billion (US$ 160m) loan for the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The project entails construction of a 4.9-km second runway to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Category II standards, including connecting taxiways, additional parking stands for aircraft, and an air rescue firefighting unit.
The existing single runway is operating at Category Flights Conditions level one (CAT-I) with a width of 45m and 4.1 km long. The 2nd runway will support more air traffic and facilitate increased tourism and business travel and expedite a two-way cargo traffic.
The project is designed to improve reliability of air transport to and from JKIA by reducing delays at peak hours and costly flight diversions arising from incidences on the existing runway, as well as the configuration of the existing single runway facility that impede the airports operational efficiency.