This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
Published on November 29, 2019, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) reported a significant growth in passenger numbers for the 2018/19 financial year.
The Authority stated that passengers using air transport jumped to 12.1 million from 11 million people in the same fiscal year, marking a 9.5 percent increase.
This growth was attributed to the expansion of the domestic market and the introduction of low-cost carriers.
However, the Authority has faced intense pressure following a series of air incidents involving domestic carriers, resulting in a confidence crisis in the local aviation industry.
To address this, the KCAA plans to reorganize its operational structures to make it more efficient and robust.
The Authority is also engaging with the Kenya Airports Authority to improve the infrastructure capacity of local airports and airstrips.
Additionally, the KCAA has received approval from the head of public service to recruit more air operators, as the Authority currently employs around 70 air operators despite a workload demand of close to 200.
Despite a gloomy economic environment, the air transport industry registered a growth rate of 7.8 percent in the 2018/19 financial year.
Regarding the regulation of unmanned flying vehicles, also known as drones, the KCAA has not granted any license to operate them in the Kenyan airspace, following efforts to license drones that were thwarted by members of parliament mid-year.
