Jomo Kenyatta International Airport operates 15 kilometers southeast of central Nairobi at 1,624 meters elevation. The facility processed 7.4 million passengers in 2019 before pandemic disruption. Terminal 1A handles international arrivals. Terminal 1B processes departures. Terminal 2 serves budget airlines and domestic flights. Terminal 1C opened in 2019 for regional African routes. Construction of Terminal 2A began in 2023 to add 2.5 million passenger capacity by 2027. The airport operates without interruption across 24 hours.
Moi International Airport in Mombasa handles 1.8 million passengers annually. The single terminal sits 9 kilometers west of Mombasa Island and Old Town at 61 meters elevation. Charter flights arrive from European cities during December through March high season. Kenya Airways operates 12 daily flights between Nairobi and Mombasa with 55-minute flight time. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and KLM maintain regular service to Mombasa. Eldoret International Airport in Rift Valley processed 350,000 passengers in 2019, primarily serving cargo and domestic routes. Kisumu International Airport near Lake Victoria handles regional flights and twice-daily Nairobi connections.
Immigration queues at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport extend to 90 minutes during evening arrival banks between 1900 and 2200 hours when European and Middle Eastern flights converge. East African Community citizens from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Democratic Republic of Congo use separate counters and clear faster. The airport installed 16 e-gates for biometric passport holders in 2022 but technical problems keep most inactive. Travelers requiring visa on arrival join a separate queue before passport control. Four immigration desks handle visa on arrival applications. Processing time averages 45 minutes during peak periods.
Baggage claim operates across five carousels in Terminal 1A. Carousel numbers appear on overhead screens 15 minutes after aircraft arrival. Wait times range from 20 minutes for domestic flights to 50 minutes for international wide-body arrivals. Luggage carts cost 200 Kenya shillings with deposit refund. The airport employs porters who approach passengers at carousels. Negotiated porter fees run 500 to 1,000 shillings depending on luggage volume. Lost baggage counters for Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, and other carriers occupy the far wall past carousel five. The airport has no left luggage facility in arrivals or departures.
Currency exchange desks in arrivals offer rates 5 to 8 percent below central Nairobi rates. Kenya Commercial Bank and Equity Bank maintain branches past customs exit with slightly better rates but still 3 to 5 percent worse than city center. ATMs from Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity Bank, Cooperative Bank, and Barclays operate in arrivals hall. Daily withdrawal limits range from 40,000 to 100,000 shillings depending on card and bank. International debit and credit cards function at airport ATMs with 2 to 3 percent foreign transaction fees plus issuing bank charges. The shilling traded at 129 to the US dollar in November 2024. M-Pesa mobile money kiosks operate past baggage claim but require Kenyan phone number and identification to register.
SIM card vendors from Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom occupy stands between customs exit and arrivals hall. Safaricom holds 65 percent market share with strongest network coverage including rural areas and national parks. A tourist SIM package with 15 gigabytes data and 100 minutes costs 1,500 shillings. Passport or national ID card required for registration under government rules. Vendors complete registration in 10 to 15 minutes. Safaricom coverage reaches 96 percent population coverage but data speeds in parks and remote areas drop to 3G. Airtel offers 20 gigabytes and 150 minutes for 1,000 shillings with weaker rural coverage. Airport SIM prices match rates in Nairobi city.
Taxi touts approach passengers aggressively in arrivals hall. Official airport taxis use yellow bodywork with roof signs. Metered fares to central Nairobi run 2,000 to 3,000 shillings with 20 to 40 percent price variation depending on traffic and driver negotiation. Uber and Bolt operate from designated pickup zones in the main parking area 100 meters from terminal exit. Riders must contact drivers by phone since parking attendants restrict vehicle access. Uber fares to Westlands district average 1,400 to 1,800 shillings. Bolt prices run 10 to 15 percent below Uber. Little Cab, a Safaricom service, operates similar to Uber with pickup from parking area. Travel time to central business district ranges from 25 minutes at 0400 hours to 90 minutes during morning rush between 0700 and 0900.
Airport buses depart from stands outside Terminal 1A. The number 34 city bus costs 50 shillings to downtown Nairobi with stops at Railway Station and along Moi Avenue. Buses run every 20 minutes from 0530 to 2100 hours. Travel time exceeds two hours due to multiple stops and traffic. Matatus, privately owned minibuses, operate from the main road 400 meters from the terminal exit. Route 34A matatus charge 80 shillings to the city center with space for 14 passengers plus driver and conductor. Departures occur when full rather than on schedule. Google Maps incorrectly shows walking route to matatu stop as safe. The poorly lit road carries heavy traffic without pedestrian pathway. Matatu travel time ranges from 45 minutes to two hours.
Kenya Railways Nairobi Commuter Service opened airport station in December 2023 beneath Terminal 1A. Trains depart every 30 minutes from 0600 to 2000 hours Monday through Saturday. The line terminates at Nairobi Central Station near the city center after stopping at Imara Daima, Makadara, and intermediate stations. Single journey costs 100 shillings. Travel time runs 40 to 50 minutes. Sunday service operates every 60 minutes. The system uses Chinese-built electric trains with air conditioning. Luggage storage racks accommodate large suitcases. Electronic ticketing requires M-Pesa payment or cash at station counters. Security screening precedes platform access.
Private shuttle companies maintain desks in arrivals including Transworld Safaris, Impala Shuttle, and Easy Coach. Pre-booked transfers to central Nairobi cost 1,500 to 2,500 shillings per person with shared service or 4,000 to 6,000 shillings for private vehicle. Advance booking required since walk-up availability cannot be guaranteed. Shuttle companies serve major hotels including Serena, Intercontinental, Radisson Blu, and Hilton. Some hotels operate dedicated airport shuttles for guests. Safari companies meeting clients display name boards past customs exit. Parking charges apply if driver waits longer than 30 minutes in pickup zone.
Traffic between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and central Nairobi flows along Mombasa Road, a four-lane highway that narrows to two lanes at Bunyala roundabout. Morning congestion peaks from 0700 to 0900 with average speeds below 15 kilometers per hour. Evening rush extends from 1630 to 1900 hours. Sunday mornings between 0600 and 0900 offer fastest airport access with travel times under 25 minutes. Mombasa Road passes through Embakasi industrial area and South B residential district before reaching the central business district. The Nairobi Expressway, a toll road opened in 2022, bypasses surface traffic from airport to Westlands via elevated lanes. Toll fees range from 120 to 360 shillings depending on exit point. Express travel time to Westlands runs 18 to 25 minutes.