This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
On November 9, 2019, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) issued a directive to local airlines with planes exceeding seven tonnes, ordering them to relocate from Wilson Airport to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in a move aimed at decongesting Wilson Airport.
The directive, which will take effect at a date yet to be agreed upon, comes after a series of mishaps at Wilson Airport, including a recent incident involving a Safarilink plane that veered off the runway after a tyre burst.
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 Saturday Nation in confidence said the move will result in extra costs, as airlines will have to dig deeper into their pockets to set up new facilities to service their planes.
The move will also imply that firms with aircraft above seven tonnes will rely on maintenance facilities owned by Kenya Airways, Africa Express and Jetlink.
“The move does not make sense since JKIA is equally congested. Remember that 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.
