Director for air transport Nicholas Bodo with KCAA director general Emile Arao at the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Africa Conference 2025/ MARTIN MWITAKenya is considering opening up its skies for more carriers, the government now says, as it aligns with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative under consideration by the continent.
This comes as the government mulls the construction of a new international airport, in a fresh push to strengthen the country’s aviation capacity and global competitiveness.
The aviation industry regulator–Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) yesterday said talks are ongoing within key ministries of transport, agriculture, trade and tourism on how Kenya can gradually open up its skies to drive numbers and cargo volumes, but with proper safeguards for the national carrier Kenya Airways.
“They are looking at ways of opening up for more carriers to come in so there is an interest to really open up the skies. All the other different stakeholders are being involved to see what needs to be done, such that at the end of the day, the objective is a benefit to Kenya as a state,” KCAA director general Emile Arao said.
He spoke to journalists during the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Africa Conference 2025 being held in Nairobi.
According to Arao, protectionism
being played by countries in favour of their local airlines does not necessarily
drive growth of these carriers, but rather collaborations as they also seek new
markets.
Kenya is a signatory and
participant in the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), having
been one of the initial 23 countries that agreed to the initiative at its
launch in 2018.
As a member, the country benefits from a liberalised aviation market and is involved in efforts to implement the SAATM, including its role in the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (SAATM-PIP).
In his speech read by Director for air transport Nicholas Bodo, Roads and Transport CS Davis Chirchir said Kenya is collaborating with neighbouring states to harmonise airspace management and facilitate seamless cross-border operations.
“This
is essential for the growth of the Single African Air Transport Market,” the CS said, “In Airspace Design and
Classification, our airspace has been redesigned to support performance-based navigation, optimise route efficiency and reduce congestion.”
"Through the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, we are streamlining licensing, certification and oversight processes to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve stakeholder engagement. Our airports, led by the Kenya Airports Authority, are undergoing modernisation to meet international service standards and improve passenger experience."
The Single African Air Transport Market is a flagship project of the African Union's Agenda 2063 that aims to create a unified, liberelised air transport market across Africa, making it easier and more affordable for people and goods to travel across the continent.
It seeks to improve continental
connectivity, boost intra-African trade and tourism, and
foster economic and social integration by removing regulatory barriers and
allowing airlines to operate more freely within the continent.
Opening up the skies is expected to drive international arrivals as the country pushes for an annual tourism target of five million, while boosting trade mainly Kenyan fresh produce and agricultural exports to global markets.
Currently, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is served by over 40 passenger airlines and more than 25 cargo airlines, making it a major hub in Africa. These airlines offer connections to destinations worldwide.
Major international airlines flying to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), which is Kenya Airways’ hub, include Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Ethiopian Airlines and China Southern Airlines.
A section of stakeholders have, however, said opening up skies should be done with caution, noting that it could hurt if local airlines are not strengthened first.
According to the Kenya Association of Travel Agents, Africa’s aviation industry is already struggling with structural inefficiencies with high operating costs, driven by expensive fuel,
leasing charges and financing rates, making it difficult for local carriers to
compete with international counterparts.
Unlike airlines in
Europe, the Middle East or Asia, African operators function in fragmented
markets where protectionism and underinvestment restrict growth.
“Opening the skies without first strengthening
local carriers would leave them exposed to stronger foreign airlines capable of
dominating the market,” KATA said.
Arao said: “The challenges we face, namely fragmented airspace and even infrastructure and involving safety needs, can only be addressed through collaboration. This conference is a platform to harmonise our regional plans and co-create sub-regional roadmaps that reflect our realities and ambitions.”
