JKIA unveils new Kshs1.7b terminal to boost capacity

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) can now accommodate up to 7.5 million passengers annually after unveiling a new terminal.

The new Terminal 2 can handle 2.5 million passengers per annum and its completion will ease congestion at Terminal 1A unveiled a few months ago. Initially, the airport could house around 6.2 million passengers annually.

Kenya Airport Authority MD Lucy Mbugua notes that the completion of the terminal is part of mordenising and expanding the airport to meet the international standards practised by first world countries.

“Several projects are still in different stages of implementation and our aim is to increase the capacity of JKIA so that it can meet the projected demand and reach the standards of airports in USA,” she noted. “Aviation plays a crucial role in the economy and availing capacity to meet demand will unlock stifled demand in other sectors of the economy.”

The new terminal, built by Germany-based consultancy company Röder HTS Höcker, has cost Ksh1.7billion and features sections for both domestic and international flights. However it will become a fully-domestic terminal in six months according to Ms Mbugua. It is also movable and can be relocated to different regions whenever a need arises.

“It will take two months to bring the facility down and six more months to set it up in a different location,” said John Ehmonns a site representative from Röder HTS Höcker. The facility features modern technology for efficiency and it will take one at most ten minutes to finish clearing with the security before boarding a plane.

“We have put current local and global security risks in consideration right from design,” remarked KAA’s Safety and Security Services General Manager Eric Kiraithe.

Terminal 2 spans 10,000 square metres and it will become fully operational at the end of this month.