This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has directed local airlines with planes exceeding seven tonnes to relocate from Wilson Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
The move, aimed at decongesting Wilson Airport following a series of mishaps, will take effect at a date yet to be agreed upon.
Operators have, however, faulted the move, saying JKIA is equally congested and has no space to build hangars, let alone carry out repairs.
Managers of local airlines who spoke to the Nation in confidence said the move will result in extra costs, as airlines will have to set up new facilities to service their planes at JKIA.
“The move does not make sense since JKIA is equally congested. Remember it’s practically impossible at the moment to get space to build a hangar at JKIA. We foresee a situation where some airlines will be kicked out of business,” said a source.
Wilson Airport has been plagued by incidents involving at least three planes, prompting an investigation by the KCAA. The latest incident occurred last Tuesday, when a Safarilink plane carrying 10 passengers veered off the runway after a tyre burst.
