The JKIA.co.ke Flightline Desk · Passenger advisories
JKIA Travel Updates
As of the check below, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is open and flights are operating on their normal schedules — no airport-wide disruption is active. One standing advisory applies: JKIA is in a multi-year upgrade, so terminals and airport access are changing in phases. Always confirm your terminal before you travel.
Checked 15 July 2026, 12:00 EAT · editorially reviewed, not a live feed✓ Airport status
Open — flights operating normally
! Standing advisory
Phased upgrade — terminals & access changing
i Do this first
Confirm your terminal on your booking or the live board
Current status
Is JKIA operating normally right now?
Yes. As of the check below, JKIA is open and flights are running on their normal schedules — there is no airport-wide strike, closure or major disruption in effect. The one action every passenger should take is to confirm their terminal, because the airport is being rebuilt in phases and assignments can move.
Verified by the Flightline Desk
Checked
15 July 2026, 12:00 EAT
Primary sources
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) notices, the operating airlines, and the live boards
What can change
Terminals, access roads, hours and entry rules can change at short notice
This page is a timestamped, editorially maintained advisory — it is not a live data feed. For the minute-by-minute picture of your specific flight, use the live arrivals and live departures boards and your airline.
| Area | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Flight operations | ✓ Normal | Flights operating to schedule. Always confirm your own flight and its terminal on the live board. |
| Terminals & gates | ! Changing | Upgrade works mean terminal assignments are being reorganised in phases. Confirm your terminal — don’t assume it. |
| Landside access & roads | ! Changes ahead | Drop-off, pick-up and parking arrangements are set to change during the works. Allow extra time. |
| Immigration & entry (eTA) | i Rules can change | Kenya’s eTA and entry rules are updated periodically. Check the Kenya eTA guide before you travel. |
| Weather & season | ○ Seasonal | Heavy rain (long rains Mar–May, short rains Oct–Dec) can slow city roads. Build in a traffic buffer. |
Standing advisory
What works and changes are happening at JKIA?
JKIA is in a multi-year modernisation programme. A master plan was finalised in February 2026 and the Kenyan government issued a construction tender on 3 March 2026 covering a new passenger terminal plus major upgrades to the runway, taxiways, existing terminals, passenger-processing systems and parking. Because the work is phased, terminal assignments and airport access will change over time — this is the single most important thing to plan around.
JKIA modernisation programme — phased works, changing terminals & access
! Ongoing · phasedLogged & reviewed 15 July 2026 · next review by mid-August 2026
What it is. A programme to expand and modernise JKIA: a new passenger terminal designed to add roughly 10 million passengers a year, runway enhancement (including a partial parallel taxiway and two rapid-exit taxiways), reconfiguration of the existing terminals, modern check-in, security, immigration and baggage systems, and reworked parking and access roads.
Why now. JKIA has outgrown its buildings — it handled about 8.9 million passengers in 2025 against a design capacity of roughly 7.5 million. The works are meant to relieve that pressure in stages.
Reported phased terminal reconfiguration (from KAA’s 2026 master plan). Terminal 1E is set to close; Terminals 1B and 1C are to merge into a single international-departures facility; Terminal 1D is to handle domestic flights only; and international arrivals are to move to Terminal 1A. Landside, private cars are expected to be restricted to drop-off and pick-up near the long-term car park, with only airport taxis and ride-hailing allowed into the immediate terminal area.
Sources: Kenya’s Ministry of Roads and Transport and Kenya Airports Authority (JKIA master plan, concluded Feb 2026; construction tender issued 3 March 2026), reported in national media. Checked 15 July 2026.
“Terminal 3 / Greenfield” — often searched, not currently open
i ClarificationOnline you’ll see references to a JKIA “Terminal 3”, “Terminal 2” Greenfield or a brand-new terminal. As of the checked date, JKIA operates Terminal 1 (concourses 1A–1E) and a separate low-cost Terminal 2. A large new terminal is part of the upgrade programme above, but it is not open yet — don’t plan a connection or a meeting point around a terminal that isn’t operating.
Source: current airport operations vs. the modernisation master plan (KAA). Checked 15 July 2026.
Getting to the airport — Expressway and Mombasa Road
i Access noteJKIA sits about 15–18 km southeast of Nairobi’s centre. The tolled Nairobi Expressway and Mombasa Road both serve the airport, and peak-hour traffic is the main variable in your journey time. During the works, drop-off, pick-up and parking may be rerouted with little notice — leave earlier than you think you need to. Full options are in the getting to & from JKIA guide.
Source: Flightline Desk transport review. Checked 15 July 2026.
Scope
What kind of updates does this page cover?
This page tracks operational changes that affect passengers at JKIA — not airport marketing news. When something real is active, we log it above with a date, a source and a direct link to the passenger task it affects.
Airfield & runway works
Runway or taxiway closures, night works, capacity limits and weather diversions that can delay flights.
Terminal changes
Concourse moves, check-in relocations and hall closures during the phased upgrade. Depth lives in the terminals guide.
Landside access & roads
Drop-off and pick-up changes, car-park works, and Expressway or Mombasa Road disruptions. See transport and parking.
Weather & seasonal
Long rains (Mar–May) and short rains (Oct–Dec) can flood roads and slow transfers. Build in a buffer.
Industrial action
Strikes by airport, airline or fuel-supplier staff that can delay or cancel flights, as in the archived February 2026 event below.
Security & drills
Planned emergency exercises and heightened screening. These can look alarming but are usually routine — we confirm before flagging.
Systems & entry rules
eTA and immigration changes, or e-gate and processing outages. High-stakes detail lives on the Kenya eTA guide.
Baggage & facilities
Belt or facility outages that affect arrivals. For problems, see lost & found and contacts.
Real-time playbook
How do I check JKIA status before I travel?
Don’t rely on any single page for a live picture — cross-check the live board, your airline and the airport’s official channels. Here’s the order the desk recommends.
Check your flight on the live board
Search arrivals or departures for your flight — status, and terminal or gate when available. Refresh close to departure.
Check with your airline directly
Your airline is the most authoritative source for your flight’s terminal, check-in desk and any delay. Reach it via your booking or the airline contacts directory.
Check official airport channels
For airport-wide notices, Kenya Airports Authority publishes updates on its own channels. Find the official contacts on the JKIA contacts page.
Give yourself buffer
During phased works, arrive earlier than usual, confirm your terminal, and allow extra time for traffic and any rerouted drop-off. See departing from JKIA.
Resolved notices
Recent JKIA disruptions (now resolved)
For reference, here are notable operational events the desk has logged that are now closed. They are kept for context only — none is a current advisory. Anything still active appears in works & changes above.
Full-scale emergency exercise (planned drill)
○ Resolved · June 202611 June 2026
A simulated emergency at JKIA briefly prompted online speculation about a real incident. Kenya Airports Authority confirmed it was a planned full-scale emergency preparedness exercise and that normal airport operations continued throughout. No flights were affected.
Source: KAA statement, reported in national media. Logged 11 June 2026 · closed.
Aviation workers’ strike
○ Resolved · February 202617–18 February 2026
Members of the Kenya Aviation Workers Union stopped work over a stalled collective bargaining agreement, causing flight delays and cancellations and leaving some passengers stranded in the terminals. The union suspended the action on 18 February 2026 after government-brokered talks, and the civil aviation authority confirmed operations had resumed. Airlines then cleared the backlog over the following days.
Source: Kenya Civil Aviation Authority / KAA statements, national media. Logged Feb 2026 · closed.
Archived notices are retained for transparency and are not current advisories. If an event reopens, it is re-flagged in the standing-advisory section above with a fresh date.
Editorial process
How this page is kept current
Review cadence
| Information | Reviewed |
|---|---|
| Live flight data | Continuously, on the boards |
| Travel alerts | Event-driven — as soon as we confirm one |
| Standing advisories (this page) | At least monthly |
| Terminal & airline mapping | Monthly and after operational changes |
| eTA, health & customs | Monthly or immediately after a policy change |
Where our facts come from
In order of authority, we rely on:
- Kenya Airports Authority and airport notices
- Kenya immigration, eTA and health authorities
- The operating airline
- Verified first-hand operational checks
- Reputable secondary sources, clearly labelled
Keep planning
Related JKIA guides
Verified by the JKIA.co.ke Flightline Desk
The Flightline Desk is a small independent team that tracks JKIA operations — terminals, timings, entry rules and disruptions — and keeps this advisory current. We cite the airport operator and airlines as sources; we are not them.
JKIA.co.ke is an independent passenger information and booking website and is not Kenya Airports Authority, an airline or a government authority. Always confirm time-sensitive airport, flight and entry details with the relevant official provider before you travel.
Questions
JKIA travel updates — FAQ
Is JKIA open and operating normally right now?
Yes. As of the checked date at the top of this page, JKIA is open and flights are operating on their normal schedules, with no airport-wide strike or closure in effect. Because this page is timestamped rather than live, always confirm your own flight on the live board and with your airline on the day.
Is there a strike at JKIA right now?
No strike is active as of the checked date. The most recent one was a two-day Kenya Aviation Workers Union strike on 17–18 February 2026, which was suspended after government-brokered talks and is now resolved. Any new industrial action would be flagged in the standing-advisory section above.
Is Terminal 1E closing at JKIA?
Under Kenya Airports Authority’s 2026 modernisation master plan, Terminal 1E is planned to close as part of a phased terminal reconfiguration, with international arrivals moving to Terminal 1A. This is a planned change, not necessarily in effect yet, and timelines can move — confirm your terminal on your booking or the live board, and see the terminals guide.
Is a new terminal being built at JKIA?
Yes. A government construction tender issued on 3 March 2026 covers a new passenger terminal (designed to add about 10 million passengers a year) plus runway, taxiway, terminal and parking upgrades. Work is phased over several years, so expect terminal and access changes while it proceeds.
Will the JKIA upgrade works affect my flight?
The works are designed to keep the airport running, and flights continue to operate. The practical impact for passengers is that your terminal, check-in area, drop-off and parking may change — so confirm your terminal before travelling and allow extra time. Your flight’s status itself is best checked on the live board and with your airline.
How do I check if my JKIA flight is delayed or cancelled?
Search your flight on the live arrivals or live departures board, and confirm directly with your airline, which is the authoritative source for delays and rebooking. Reach your carrier through the airline contacts directory.
Does JKIA have a Terminal 3?
Not in operation. JKIA currently runs Terminal 1 (concourses 1A–1E) and a separate Terminal 2. A large new terminal is part of the upgrade programme but is not open yet, so don’t plan a connection or meeting point around it.
Can I still drive to and park at JKIA during the upgrade?
Yes, but access is set to change in phases. The master plan indicates private cars will increasingly be directed to drop-off and pick-up near the long-term car park, with only airport taxis and ride-hailing entering the immediate terminal area. Check the current arrangement on the parking guide and allow extra time.
How will I know which terminal to use at JKIA?
Your terminal is shown on your booking and boarding pass, on the live departures board, and confirmed by your airline. During the phased works this is the safest way to check — don’t rely on older guidance or on this advisory page for your specific terminal.
Is this page a live or official source of JKIA alerts?
No. This is an independent, editorially maintained advisory with a visible “Checked” date — not a live feed and not an official government or airport channel. For official airport-wide notices use Kenya Airports Authority’s own channels (listed on the contacts page), and for your flight use the live board and your airline.