Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International: All You Need To Know

which airport is nbo in kenya

NBO is the airport code for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya. It is the country's largest airport, serving as the primary gateway to Kenya. The airport was opened in 1958 and was renamed in 1972 in honour of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president. NBO offers flights to over 50 destinations worldwide, including India, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. The airport is located 15 km from Nairobi City Centre and has two terminals.

Characteristics Values
Airport name Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
Airport code NBO
Location Nairobi, Kenya
Distance from city centre 15 km
Number of terminals 2
Number of airlines 34-38
Number of destinations 50-64
Longest flight route Nairobi (NBO) to New York (JFK) (15 hours)
Second longest flight route Nairobi (NBO) to Guangzhou (CAN) (11 hours and 35 minutes)
Most frequent route Nairobi to Mombasa (MBA) (132 flights per week)
Top international destinations Entebbe (EBB), Dar Es Salaam (DAR)
Main entrance road Airport South Road
Expressway access Yes
Public transport access City Bus Route Number 34
Rail link Yes
Runway length 4 km
Services Car hire, duty-free shopping, restaurants, lounges, etc.

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NBO is Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

NBO, or Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, is the main airport in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest airport in the country and is located about 15 km from the city centre. The airport first opened in 1958 as Embakasi Airport and was renamed in 1972 to honour Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya.

NBO offers flights to over 50 destinations worldwide, including India, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, with 34 airlines flying from Nairobi to 91 airports around the world. The airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, with Terminal 1 being used for international arrivals and departures, and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. Terminal 1 is further divided into four sections: 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1E, while Terminal 1D is used for domestic arrivals and departures.

NBO is easily accessible, with a main entrance on Airport South Road, which can be reached via an exit from the A109 highway (Mombasa Road). Passengers can also take city Bus Route Number 34 or a rail link to central Nairobi, which has been operational since December 2020.

NBO offers a range of amenities, including duty-free shopping, restaurants, lounges, car hire, and more. The airport is also home to the iconic Giraffe Centre and is within close proximity to the Nairobi National Park, making it a popular gateway to the city of Nairobi and the surrounding region.

NBO has been undergoing continuous development to enhance its infrastructure. In 1978, a new terminal building was opened, and in 1980, the runway was extended to accommodate larger aircraft. In 1985, a dedicated cargo terminal was built, and in 2013, a new terminal building was added, increasing the airport's capacity to handle up to 20 million passengers annually.

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It is the largest airport in Kenya

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is the largest airport in Kenya. It is located in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. The airport is situated in the Embakasi suburbs, 18 kilometres southeast of the central business district.

The airport was initially known as Embakasi Airport when it first opened in 1958. It was renamed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in 1978 to honour the first president and prime minister of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta. The airport has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years, with the World Bank approving funds for a new international and domestic passenger terminal building, as well as other infrastructure improvements in 1972.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has five terminals (Terminal 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 2) and serves as a hub for Kenya Airways and Jambojet Limited. It offers flights to 64 destinations with 38 airlines in scheduled passenger traffic, flying to over 50 countries worldwide. The airport also has a variety of lounges, restaurants, and retail options for passengers.

The airport is easily accessible via the new 2022 expressway, city Bus Route Number 34, and a rail link to central Nairobi that began operating in December 2020. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is not only the largest in Kenya but also the busiest airport in East Africa, playing a significant role in the country's aviation industry.

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The airport has two terminals

NBO is the airport code for Nairobi Airport, also known as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). It is the largest airport in Kenya, located in the country's capital, Nairobi, and serving as the primary gateway into the country. The airport is about 15 km from the city centre and is easily accessible via the new 2022 expressway, the A109 highway (Mombasa Road), or the city Bus Route Number 34. A rail link to central Nairobi also commenced operation in December 2020.

Nairobi Airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which are connected by a shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Terminal 1 is divided into four parts: 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1E, which are used for international arrivals and departures. Terminal 1D is used for domestic arrivals and departures. Terminal 2 is used by low-cost carriers. Terminal 1 has 9 gates and is served by major airlines such as Kenya Airways, KLM, and Emirates. Terminal 2 has 5 gates and is served by low-cost carriers such as Jambojet and Fly540.

The airport has a rich history, first opening in 1958 as Embakasi Airport. In 1972, the airport was renamed after Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president. In 1978, a new terminal building was opened, increasing the airport's capacity. The runway was extended in 1980 to accommodate larger aircraft, and in 1985, a cargo terminal was built to handle the increasing demand for air freight. In 2013, a new terminal building was opened, allowing the airport to handle up to 20 million passengers per year.

NBO offers a range of amenities for travellers, including duty-free shopping, restaurants, and lounges. The airport also features the iconic Giraffe Centre, making it a popular destination for tourists. Nairobi Airport serves over 50 destinations worldwide, with flights to cities such as New York, Guangzhou, Entebbe, and Dar Es Salaam. The airport is a hub for Kenya Airways, Jambojet, and Fly540, with 34-38 airlines operating from the airport to 91-96 airports worldwide.

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It is located 15km from Nairobi City Centre

NBO, or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, is Nairobi's principal airport. It is located 15km from the city centre, in the Nairobi Province of Kenya. It is the country's largest airport, serving as the primary gateway to Kenya, and is also its busiest airport. The airport is easily accessible from the city centre, with a new expressway connecting travellers to the airport with no turns or traffic. Passengers can also take the city bus route number 34, or the rail link to central Nairobi.

NBO is the main airport for both international and domestic flights in Kenya, with flights to over 50 destinations worldwide. It is also a hub for Kenya Airways, Jambojet, and Fly540. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 divided into four parts: 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1E, which are used for international arrivals and departures. Terminal 1D is used for domestic arrivals and departures, while low-cost carriers use Terminal 2.

The airport offers various amenities, including duty-free shopping, restaurants, and lounges for travellers. It also has a long runway of almost 4km, which is the longest in Kenya. This allows for large aircraft to land and take off, facilitating long-haul flights to destinations such as New York and Guangzhou.

NBO is a significant hub for travellers, with many airlines serving the airport and offering connections to various parts of the world. Its location, just 15km from the Nairobi City Centre, makes it a convenient gateway to and from the city and the surrounding region.

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The airport opened in 1958

NBO stands for Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which is the largest airport in Kenya. It is located in Nairobi, about 15 km from the city centre, and is the country's main airport for both international and domestic flights. The airport was opened in 1958 as Embakasi Airport, by the last colonial governor of Kenya, Sir Evelyn Baring.

The opening ceremony was initially planned to be attended by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. However, she was delayed in Australia due to an engine failure on her Qantas Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft. The airport's runway was a significant improvement on Eastleigh's murram runway, which was 2,432 metres long and unsuitable for Britannias in the rainy season. The new runway at Embakasi Airport was 3,048 metres long, with a basic strip that was 3,292 metres long and 152 metres wide, prepared for the 46-metre-wide runway. The runway was sited roughly 06-24, with the 06 approach being used 90% of the time.

In 1972, the World Bank approved funds for further expansion of the airport, including a new international and domestic passenger terminal building, the airport's first dedicated cargo and freight terminal, new taxiways, internal roads, car parks, police and fire stations, a State Pavilion, airfield and roadway lighting, a fire hydrant system, water, electrical, telecommunications and sewage systems, a dual carriageway passenger access road, security, drainage, and the building of Airport South Road, which is the airport's main entrance. The total cost of the project was over $29 million ($111.8 million in 2013 dollars). On 14 March 1978, construction of the current terminal building was completed and the airport was renamed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in honour of President Kenyatta, who died about five months later, on 22 August 1978.

Today, the airport has five terminals and offers flights to 64 destinations with 38 airlines in scheduled passenger traffic. It is served by many airlines, including Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Tanzania, India Air, Fly Emirates, British Air, and South African Airways.

Frequently asked questions

NBO stands for Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The airport is located about 15 km from Nairobi City Centre, in the Nairobi Province of Kenya.

NBO has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 1 is divided into four parts - 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1E. These terminals are used for international arrivals and departures, while terminal 1D is used for domestic arrivals and departures. Low-cost carriers use Terminal 2.

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