On Tuesday, November 20, 2018, the government launched a Sh7 billion overhaul of Moi International Airport in Mombasa, setting in motion a major upgrade aimed at improving safety, efficiency and tourist access to the coast.
The project focuses on the airside pavements and the airfield lighting system, with officials saying the work is intended to attract more charter flights into Mombasa and extend the airport’s operating life.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the rehabilitation would help protect the airport’s safety record while making operations more efficient. He said Moi International Airport remains a key entry point for visitors to the coastal region, including tourists and business travellers.
The project is being funded by the French Development Agency, the Kenya Airports Authority and consultancy support from the World Bank. According to the announcement, the French Development Agency is covering 93 per cent of the cost.
Officials said the pavement restoration is expected to last another 20 to 25 years. The last rehabilitation at the airport was carried out in 1994, making the current works the first major renewal in decades.
Macharia said the airport serves the coastal area and handles a large share of international arrivals by air. He said about 80 per cent of international tourists and most other visitors to the county travel in by air.
The Cabinet Secretary said the project should take two years and is expected to be commissioned by 2020.
Kenya Airports Authority managing director Johnny Anderson said the works will include rehabilitation of runway pavements, reconstruction of parts of the taxiways and aprons, and removal and replacement of pre-cast concrete slabs. He also said lighting fittings, including runway, threshold and end lights, taxiway LED lights, approach lights and apron end lights, will be replaced, along with taxiway primary and secondary cables and transformers.
Anderson said the completed works will extend the runway’s lifespan by another 20 to 25 years and improve safety and passenger comfort for travellers using Moi International Airport.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said the upgrade was important because the county depends heavily on tourism. He argued that economic growth in the region depends on accessibility and said the airport has been more efficient than JKIA.
Balala said the airport has a capacity of more than two million passengers but currently handles fewer than 300,000. He added that charter traffic has increased from nine to 15 airlines, but said the region still needs more scheduled services.
