Why Narok airport is not a key pick for aviation sector players

Tourists waiting to board the fixed-wing aircraft at Angama airstrip in Masai Mara. The Airstrip is set to be upgraded into an airport. [Robert Kiplagat, Standard] Early this month, the government announced major plans to start construction of an international airport in Narok County, a move it said would further unlock the tourism circuit in the region, whose key attraction is the world famous Maasai Mara. The National Treasury is set to pump Sh700 million into the project which is expected to be ready in 15 months. The plan has elicited different reactions. There are expectations that the airport will rejuvenate the economy of Narok County. It will not only create new jobs but also enhance its status as a hub for tourism and travel by easing access for international tourists to fly directly to the destination. On the other hand, there are concerns that Narok is already adequately connected, but the facilities that offer this connection are themselves in a dire state. Such include Wilson Airport, which provides nearly all the traffic to Maasai Mara but remains neglected to the point that it is on the verge of collapse. Aviation industry players say existing aviation facilities should have been given priority even as the country looks to build new airports and other aviation facilities. The government said the Narok International Airport will reduce traffic in the Maasai Mara, where there have been concerns that the increase in human activities, including airstrips, is harming the Mara ecosystem. Instead, tourists will disembark at the major airport and complete the rest of their journey to the game lodges and camps on road, akin to taking a game drive. President William Ruto said the construction will promote tourism by enhancing access and connectivity to the Maasai Mara. "It will reduce aircraft landings and take-offs within the reserve, thereby supporting conservation efforts. The project will also create jobs and boost foreign exchange earnings," he said. Aviation sector players are however of a different view and question the government's approach to investment in the tourism sector, including the government is putting money and other resources where it matters most. "The aviation sector is not short of potential; it is short of prioritisation. While new runways and terminals inspire promise, the country risks stretching its resources thin at the expense of its most economically strategic assets," said the tour operators lobby, the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO). The association, whose membership comprises different airlines including Kenya Airways, noted that while Wilson Airport is a key cog in air connectivity in Kenya, it remains neglected. Other than encroachment by private developers, it has over the years faced underinvestment as aviation sector authorities commit little funds to its improvement. As opposed to developing new aviation facilities such as the Narok Airport, the operators' lobby noted that the immediate focus should be on upgrading existing airports that are in dire need of attention before embarking on new capital projects. "This is not a call to halt development elsewhere. Rather, it is a case for deliberate prioritisation anchored in economic value. As a country, we must adopt a phased and data-informed investment approach-one rooted in the National Aviation Policy -that ensures foundational infrastructure is strengthened first," said KAAO. "This means prioritising airports that yield the greatest national and regional returns in connectivity, revenue, safety, and service delivery. By allowing national priorities to inform the order of investment, Kenya can align ambition with prudent foresight, ensuring the most critical aviation assets are fortified first, laying a solid foundation for future expansion. This then begs the question, why not invest in Wilson, for example, before building a new airport in Narok?" Wilson Airport helps to relieve pressure from JKIA while also acting as a vital feeder node. Other than domestic routes, carriers based at Wilson also fly to regional destinations and has been recognised by IATA as the busiest General Aviation airport in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2024, Wilson Airport handled 95,600 aircraft movements and 912,548 passenger movements, supporting what industry players term as the highest concentration of private aviation investment in the country and employing thousands in aviation-related roles. As Kenya's tourism sector rebounds and domestic travel demand rises, Wilson's activities are projected to grow steadily through 2030 to 1.18 million passengers, underscoring its strategic economic relevance. While it has over the years emerged as a critical hub for aviation in the region, the airport has however been collapsing under the weight of its success and experienced several mishaps. Other than underinvestments, the airport suffers from insensitive land use that has left it an island amid numerous real estate developments, some of them high-rise and the legality of others questionable. It is far busier than most of the other airports that have received billions more in investments and attention from civil aviation authorities but lie idle, only receiving a handful of flights every day. A 2020, KCAA report noted that the developments in its surrounding areas are a threat and might hamper attempts to further improve the airport and maximise its potential. KCAA noted that "land encroachment at Wilson Airport is a safety hazard as well as high buildings in the vicinity of the airport, which is also used for training students." "Aerodromes are occasionally ignored during land use planning and control (Wilson Airport is one such case)," said KCAA in the report that evaluated the status of the aviation industry. According to the Tourism Research Institute (TRI) Report 2024, Kenya recorded 7.57 million visitor arrivals, comprising 2.4 million international tourists and 5.17 million domestic tourists. The sector is projected to grow steadily, with an ambitious target of 6 million international arrivals annually by 2030. Many of these travellers rely on Wilson Airport for access to connect to different tourism circuits around the country. Aside from Wilson Airport, the airlines' lobby noted that JKIA too is in dire need of investments. Facilities at the airport were designed to handle 2.5 million passengers annually but it is currently handling over seven million. Players say continued neglect of its aviation infrastructure, Kenya risks losing out to regional competitors, with countries such as Ethiopia heavily and aggressively investing in aviation and increasingly becoming a preferred connecting destination for passengers travelling into and out of Africa. A cabinet-approved aviation policy noted that State-owned airports and airstrips across the country face a Sh260 billion ($2 billion) financing hole to bring their operations up to date. Half of the amount ($1 billion or Sh130 billion) is projected to be what the country's main airport, JKIA, requires to become a competitive hub in the region. The government has recently attempted to hand over JKIA to Adani Airport Holdings but backtracked following public uproar. The airline's lobby noted that the focus now should be on upgrading existing airports, which just like JKIA and Wilson, are overstretched and go for years without significant investments.

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