Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is Kenya’s largest airport and the main international gateway into the country. It serves the capital and largest city of Kenya - Nairobi. NBO is the busiest airport in East Africa.
The airport is located around 15 km southeast of Nairobi’s city center. It connects Kenya to more than 50 international destinations.
In 2024, JKIA handled nearly 9 million passengers, which is around 75% of all air traffic in Kenya. This ranks it among the 10 busiest airports in Africa.
Major Airlines - Kenya Airways
At the heart of JKIA’s operations is Kenya Airways. The flag carrier and largest airline at NBO is headquartered at Terminal 1A and offers direct flights to over 50 destinations in Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.
Operating alongside it is its low-cost offshoot, Jambojet, which focuses primarily on domestic flights but also offers a few international routes to neighboring countries.
Another airline that uses NBO as a hub is the Somali carrier African Express Airways, which operates flights between Nairobi and cities in Somalia and South Sudan.
Nairobi Airport also hosts several global airlines such as Air France, British Airways, Etihad Airways, KLM, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines. These carriers fly to their respective hubs in Europe and the Middle East.
Smaller airlines that fly to NBO include the Tanzanian Precision Air, the Omani Salam Air, and the flag carrier LAM Mozambique Airlines.
See a full list of airlines at NBO.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has two terminals.
The main one is organized as a semi-circular complex and comprises five interconnected terminals as follows:
Terminal 1A for international departures and arrivals. This is the largest one, features 12 gates, and can handle up to 2.5 million passengers in a year. It is predominantly used by SkyTeam Alliance airlines.
Terminal 1B for international departures only.
Terminal 1C for international departures only.
Terminal 1D for domestic flights only. Used by Kenya Airways and Jambojet.
Terminal 1E for international arrivals only.
A separate Terminal 2 is a short walk away and serves low-cost carriers. It has its own check-in and departure facilities.
A free shuttle bus operates between the arrivals area and the domestic terminal (Terminal 2), handy for passengers who arrive from abroad and transfer to a domestic flight.
Plans for a new terminal and runway have been drafted and cancelled several times over the past decade. If passenger numbers continue to grow, current terminal capacity will soon not be enough to meet demand.
Connecting Flights and Transit in Nairobi
If you’re not leaving the transit area of the airport, you will not need a visa or an eTA. Normally, you will have two flights with the same airline (probably Kenya Airways), and the airline will take care of the transit procedure and your luggage. All subterminals in T1, except 1D (domestic) are connected by walkways or pedestrian bridges.
If you’re transferring to a domestic flight, you will have to clear Immigration and Customs before moving to the other terminal. To get to T2, you can either walk for around 5 minutes or take the free shuttle bus, which circles every 10 minutes.
If your transit is longer, you may want to leave the terminal and explore the city and nearby attractions. Transits under 72 hours are eligible for a transit visa costing 20 USD.
WiFi at Nairobi Airport
All public areas of the airport are equipped with free Wi-Fi.
Simply connect to “NBO Free WiFi”, and then register with your email address to access the internet.
Lounges, including Pride, Simba, and Aspire, offer dedicated Wi‑Fi networks, usually faster for most daily tasks.
Lounges at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
JKIA offers two lounges operated by Kenya Airways, one independent lounge, and one lounge by Turkish Airlines. All lounges are open 24/7.
Kenya Airways maintains Pride Lounge and Simba Lounge. They serve business-class passengers and loyalty cardholders, provide free Wi‑Fi, complimentary refreshments, TVs, and kid-friendly zones. Both are located in Terminal 1A - the Simba Lounge is in the departure area on the second floor, whereas the Pride Lounge is near Gate 17.
The independent Aspire Lounge welcomes all departing passengers, regardless of airline or class. It features fast Wi‑Fi, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, flight information displays, reading materials, and showers. It’s located opposite Gate 11 in Terminal 1B. The entry fee is 30 USD.
Turkish Airlines also operates a lounge for its elite passengers. It’s located in Terminal 1E, between Gates 13 and 4.
Dining Options at NBO
Nairobi airport has a few cafes and small restaurants, but it is in no way a world-class airport in this regard.
One of the most popular establishments is the Karibu Cafe, located in International Arrivals. It offers the famous Kenyan Dorman's coffee, as well as snacks, desserts, and other food.
In Domestic Departures, one can buy a drink or snack from The Safari Coffee Shop.
The Pub is a suitable place to sit down for a drink before a flight. It’s situated near the Unit 2 check-in area.
For food, the best place at the airport is perhaps The Kenchic Inn. It offers both local and International cuisine.
Baggage Storage at NBO
Short- and long-term storage is available in the Domestic Terminal. It is open 24/7 and can store luggage through a secure counter facility.
You will need to present your passport, fill out a form, and sign a disclaimer. The charges are 300 KES / 4 USD per bag per day.
Transportation
Getting to and from JKIA has become significantly easier since the 2022 opening of the Nairobi Expressway, a toll road that slashes journey times to Westlands to just 15-20 minutes under normal traffic (used to be at least an hour before that).
A taxi to the city center will set you back between 1200 and 2000 KES, depending on the distance. Metered taxis are readily available outside the terminal.
Private transfer options also exist in the form of limousines and shuttles.
An alternative is the City Bus #34, which runs every 20 minutes between 6 AM and 9 PM. It runs between downtown Nairobi and JKIA, and the ticket costs 35 KES. The travel time is about 45 minutes, traffic permitting.
Lastly, several car rental companies have offices at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, allowing you to pick up a car at any time during the day. Prior booking is recommended, so your vehicle is waiting for you on arrival.
Parking at NBO
Several car parks, P3, P4, P5, and P6, are located in the circular area between the terminals. They are connected by both pedestrian paths and the inter-terminal shuttle service.
Short-term parking costs around 60-70 KES per hour (less for longer stays), depending on the parking lot. Long-term rates start at 700 KES per day.
P9, P10, P11, and P12 are located a short distance outside the airport.
Hotels near Nairobi Airport
JKIA lacks an on-site hotel, but a few are located within the airport grounds and a short driving distance away.
Near the airport are both the Four Points by Sheraton and Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport. Both are about 2 km from the terminals and offer a complimentary shuttle.
The Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi Airport is about 4 km away from the airport, just on the side of the Nairobi Expressway. On the other side of the highway, you can stay at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi Airport, also a prestigious 5-star hotel.
Farther, in downtown Nairobi, the central business district, and in the Westlands, several other premium hotels also offer shuttles to the airport.
Nairobi, Kenya
