Aviation in Kenya
Air transport has been a major driver in Kenya’s economy, boosting tourism, attracting regional headquarters of multinational companies and fostering trade, logistics and foreign investment in the country. When it comes to visa openness, Kenya ranks 12th globally. With more than 4.7 million passengers arriving to Kenya’s airports every year and the country’s established position as the leading cargo hub for East Africa, there is good reason to be proud of all that aviation has achieved in the country.
In fact, IATA has recently published a study on the value of aviation for Kenya, and the numbers really speak for themselves. In 2017, aviation and tourism contributed USD 3.2 billion in GDP. It accounts for 4.6% of Kenya’s GDP and supports 410,000 jobs. Over the next 20 years the Kenyan market could more than double in size, resulting in an additional 11.3 million passenger journeys, over 449,000 more jobs, and a $11.3 billion boost to GDP by 2037.
But to continue this growth sustainably, IATA identified four areas where government action can promote aviation’s growth and bring even more value to Kenya:
1. Improve air transport infrastructure to accommodate the future growth of air traffic in collaboration with users : Improving operational efficiency at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is essential if Nairobi is to remain a competitive connecting hub and East Africa’s main air cargo hub.
2. Implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) : SAATM will open Africa’s skies. We welcome Kenya’s commitment to SAATM and urge the government to implement it by making its regulatory framework statutory.
3. Improve safety: Improvements in the safety performance of Africa’s turboprop fleet remain a priority - including in Kenya. The IATA Standard Safety Assessment Program (ISSA) enhances and complements the state’s safety oversight role
4. Adopt new innovative technology: Integrating technology such as biometrics and AI will improve efficiency and passengers’ journey experience
Source: AfricanAerospace.aero
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