Terminal 1A
International arrivals and departures for Kenya Airways and its SkyTeam partners. It opened in 2014.
Also known as: Nairobi Airport, JKIA, NBO Airport, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport. Formerly Embakasi Airport.
NBO · HKJK · Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is the international airport of Nairobi, Kenya, and is run by the Kenya Airports Authority. Kenya Airways is based here and flies across Africa and to Europe, the Middle East and Asia, including Amsterdam, London, Paris, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok and New York. Other airlines link Nairobi with hubs such as Addis Ababa, Doha, Istanbul, Johannesburg and Cairo, while Kenya Airways and Jambojet fly domestic routes to Mombasa, Kisumu and Malindi.
Terminal 1 is split into units: 1A for Kenya Airways and its SkyTeam partners, 1B and 1C for other international departures, 1D for domestic flights and 1E for international arrivals. Terminal 2 is a separate building used by low-cost, regional and charter flights.
The airport lies in the Embakasi area, about 18 km southeast of the city center, reached from Mombasa Road. The Nairobi Expressway runs from the airport area to Westlands, and the drive to the CBD usually takes 25 to 40 minutes outside rush hour.
From the airport, travelers continue to central Nairobi and Westlands, to Wilson Airport for light-aircraft flights to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu, and on domestic flights to Mombasa and Diani Beach.
Kenya Airports Authority
About 9.1 million in 2024
One runway (06/24), 4,117 m long
Kenya Airways
1958, as Embakasi Airport
After landing, follow the Arrivals and Immigration signs; international passengers clear immigration in the Terminal 1E arrivals area. Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online at etakenya.go.ke before departure, while East African Community citizens and many African nationals are exempt. Immigration queues can pass 45 minutes when several long-haul flights land in the evening.
Bags arrive in the baggage claim hall. At customs, use the green channel if you have nothing to declare and the red channel if you do. The public arrivals area beyond customs has ATMs, foreign exchange counters and SIM card desks for Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom.
Pre-booked drivers, hotel staff and safari guides wait in the public arrivals area with name boards. Licensed taxis use the rank just outside arrivals; ignore touts and unsolicited ride offers, and agree the fare before you leave.
Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling and East Africa Time (UTC+3), with no daylight saving. The airport sits about 1,624 m above sea level.
Most travelers use a pre-booked transfer or a licensed taxi, since public transport from the terminals is limited.
Licensed taxis wait at the rank just outside arrivals. The ride to the CBD or Westlands takes about 25 to 40 minutes via the Nairobi Expressway outside rush hour, and over an hour in heavy traffic without it. Agree the fare, and whether Expressway tolls are included, before setting off.
Drivers meet you with a name board in the public arrivals area after customs. It suits late arrivals and onward trips to Wilson Airport, but it has to be arranged in advance.
Uber, Bolt and Little Cab operate at JKIA. Pickups usually happen in the public parking area rather than at the taxi rank, and drivers often call to confirm the spot, so you need mobile data.
City bus route 34 serves the airport and runs to central Nairobi. It is slow in traffic and awkward with large luggage.
Wilson Airport, used by Safarilink and AirKenya Express for safari flights, is about 18 km away by road. Allow about an hour from customs to Wilson check-in, more in heavy traffic; bags must be collected at JKIA and checked in again.
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Units 1A, 1B, 1C and the international side of 1D are usually connected airside; follow the Flight Connections signs.
The domestic and international areas are separate, so on separate tickets you generally go landside, collect bags and check in again.
Terminal 2 has no airside walkway to Terminal 1. Use the airport shuttle or a taxi and allow 15 to 30 minutes.
International arrivals and departures for Kenya Airways and its SkyTeam partners. It opened in 2014.
International departures for airlines that do not use Terminal 1A, with shared check-in, duty-free shops and cafés.
Domestic arrivals and departures, including Kenya Airways and Jambojet flights to Mombasa, Kisumu and other Kenyan cities.
International arrivals hall where passengers clear immigration and customs before entering the public arrivals area.
A separate building about 900 metres from the main complex, used by low-cost, regional and charter flights, with both domestic and international check-in.
The main airlines at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Air Tanzania Terminals 1B and 1C
Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Airlink Terminals 1B and 1C
Johannesburg
Jambojet T1D
Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Malindi, Diani (Ukunda)
Kenya Airways T1A
Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris, New York (JFK), Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra, Kigali, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Kenya Airways T1D
Mombasa, Kisumu, Malindi
The airport is about 18 km southeast of central Nairobi. By road the trip to the CBD or Westlands usually takes 25 to 40 minutes using the Nairobi Expressway outside rush hour. Without the Expressway, or at peak times, the drive along Mombasa Road can take more than an hour, so allow extra time in the morning and evening.
Yes. JKIA lies in Embakasi, a suburb within Nairobi, on the southeastern side of the city. It is reached from Mombasa Road via Airport South Road. The CBD and Westlands are linked to the airport area by the Nairobi Expressway, an elevated toll road, which avoids much of the city traffic.
JKIA has two terminal buildings. Terminal 1 is divided into units: 1A for Kenya Airways and SkyTeam partners, 1B and 1C for other international departures, 1D for domestic flights and 1E for international arrivals. Terminal 2 is a separate building about 900 metres away, used by low-cost, regional and charter flights. Check your ticket for the unit you need.
Kenya Airways uses Terminal 1A for international flights, together with SkyTeam partners such as KLM and Air France. Its domestic flights, and those of its low-cost subsidiary Jambojet, generally use Terminal 1D. Other international airlines usually depart from Terminals 1B and 1C. Terminal assignments can change, so confirm on your booking and the departure screens.
Yes. Licensed airport taxis wait at a designated rank just outside the arrivals area. Fares are agreed before the trip, so confirm the amount and whether Nairobi Expressway tolls are included before you get in. Avoid touts and people offering rides inside or outside the terminal, and use only the official rank or a driver you arranged in advance.
City bus route 34 serves the airport and runs to central Nairobi. It is the only regular public option from the terminals, but it is slow in traffic and has little space for large suitcases. Most arriving international travelers use a licensed taxi, a ride-hailing app or a pre-arranged transfer instead, especially after dark or with luggage.
Yes. Uber, Bolt and Little Cab all operate at JKIA. Pickups usually take place in the public parking area rather than at the taxi rank, and drivers often call or message to confirm the exact spot. You need mobile data to book, so buying a local SIM card in the arrivals area first can help.
Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online at etakenya.go.ke before departure. Citizens of East African Community countries and many other African nations are exempt for stays of up to 60, 90 or 180 days, depending on nationality. Travelers who skip a required eTA can be refused boarding or charged a penalty on arrival.
Wilson Airport, used by Safarilink and AirKenya Express for flights to the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu, is about 18 km from JKIA by road. Expect around an hour from clearing customs to checking in at Wilson, and longer in heavy traffic. Bags are not checked through, so you collect them at JKIA and check in again.
Kenya Airways and Jambojet fly from JKIA to Mombasa, and Jambojet also serves Diani (Ukunda) and Malindi. Domestic flights generally leave from Terminal 1D. If you arrive on an international flight with a separate ticket, you will need to collect your bags, go landside and check in again for the domestic leg.
Kenya is on East Africa Time (UTC+3) all year and does not use daylight saving time. The currency is the Kenyan shilling. Bureaus in the arrivals area change US dollars, euros and pounds, ATMs are available, and the M-Pesa mobile money service is widely used. The airport sits about 1,624 m above sea level.
The airport is run by the Kenya Airports Authority. It handled about 9.1 million passengers in 2024 and is the base of Kenya Airways. It has a single runway, 4,117 m long. The airport opened in 1958 as Embakasi Airport and was later renamed after Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president.
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Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.
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No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.
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