Kenya’s domestic passenger air traffic through JKIA grew by 12% whereas its international passengers grew by 7.6%.

Standard cites that the number of passengers into Kenya grew to 12.07 million from 11.02 million in 2018. Additionally, transit traffic also increased by 8 per cent, while freight increased by 11 per cent this year.

This, according to the KCAA Director is due to the introduction of low-cost carriers and efficient airspace management.

“To better regulate air safety in Kenya, we are reviewing and reorganizing our organizational structure with a view to upscale and enhance our capacity and position to oversight the expanding Aviation Industry,” said Director General Gilbert Kibe.

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Part of the reforms include hiring additional workers to work at KCAA. The new staff will work in oversight roles, serving as safety inspectors, licencing personnel, and air traffic controllers.

“KCAA has received approval from the Head of Public Service and the National Treasury to recruit additional staff to enable it to discharge its mandate,” said Kibe.

Furthermore, the agency is looking to repeal the ban on drone operation in the country by next year. In March, parliament banned the use of drones over privacy concerns.

Meanwhile, KCAA is drafting new regulations on the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.

“We assure to appeal to the committee to approve drone operations to go on in the next few months,” said Kibe.