Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Guide
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport sits in the Embakasi suburb, 18 kilometres southeast of Nairobi's city centre, at an elevation of 1,624 metres above sea level. Originally opened in March 1958 as Embakasi Airport, it was renamed in 1978 to honour Kenya's first president. In 2024 the airport handled over 9 million passengers and 360,000 aircraft movements, ranking it sixth busiest in Africa by passenger traffic.
Kenya Airways operates as the primary hub carrier, connecting Nairobi to destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. The airport serves over 40 passenger airlines covering roughly 65 international destinations and acts as a key transit hub for East and Central Africa. A single runway of 4,117 metres serves all traffic, with a second runway under long-term planning.
The airport has one operational passenger terminal building (Terminal 1) divided into sections for international and domestic traffic, plus a separate Terminal 2 for low-cost carriers. The Kenya Airports Authority manages ongoing infrastructure upgrades to handle growing passenger volumes that already exceed the original design capacity.
Services
5 of 6 availableCompare 26 listed options at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, spanning parking, car rentals, lounges, hotels and shuttles. Each guide sets out locations, distance from the airport, key features and links to book direct, so you can weigh cost against convenience before you fly. Select a service below to see every provider we track for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Location
Key facts
- Size
- 9.1M passengers (2024)1 runwayopened 1958
- Location
- -1.319, 36.928
- Operator
- Kenya Airports Authority
Terminals
6 terminalsJomo Kenyatta International Airport has 6 passenger terminals — Terminal 1A, Terminal 1B, Terminal 1C, Terminal 1D, Terminal 1E and Terminal 2, handling both international and domestic flights for around 15 airlines. Check which terminal your airline uses before you travel, as check-in, security and boarding points differ between them, and moving from one to another can take time.
- Terminal 1AInternational
Kenya Airways, KLM, Air France
- Terminal 1BInternational
British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines
- Terminal 1CInternational
Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines
- Terminal 1DDomestic
Kenya Airways, Jambojet
- Terminal 1EInternational
- Terminal 2Mixed
Fly540, Fastjet, RwandAir, Safarilink
Nearby cities
3 citiesJomo Kenyatta International Airport is closest to Nairobi (18 km northwest), and also serves Thika, Machakos and other nearby areas. With 3 towns and cities within reach, it is a practical gateway for the wider region. Distances shown are straight-line from the airport, so allow extra time for road transfers, traffic and parking.
- Nairobi18 km northwest
- Thika49 km north
- Machakos53 km southeast
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the airport codes for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport?
What are the airport codes for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport?
Where is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport located?
Where is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport located?
What services are available at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport?
What services are available at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport?
Help us improve this page
Found outdated information or know about a service we're missing? Let us know!
Suggest page updates →