The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has confirmed that a fire that affected a section of grassland surrounding Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday evening, has been contained.
In a statement on Friday, February 21, KAA assured the public that the fire remained confined to non-operational areas and did not threaten critical infrastructure.
According to KAA, the fire was contained by a coordinated emergency response team including the KAA Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting Service and the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF).
While authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire, KAA emphasized that airport services remained unaffected.
"All airport activities, including flight schedules, passenger processing, and cargo handling, remain fully operational and unaffected. The authority will provide further updates as more information becomes available," the statement added.
In addition, police have announced that they have commenced investigations to determine the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has been named African Cargo Airport of the Year at the prestigious STAT Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo.
The recognition highlights JKIA’s outstanding role in facilitating trade and logistics across the continent.
In a statement, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) celebrated the achievement, describing it as a major milestone for the country’s largest airport.
According to JKIA data, the airport handled 112,000 tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of 2024, a significant share of Africa’s air cargo traffic.
In 2023, the airport processed 372,249 tonnes of cargo, cementing its status as a leading cargo hub.
Cargo operations at JKIA also play a vital role in Kenya’s economy. In 2023, they accounted for 7% of total revenue for the national carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ).
Out of Ksh178 billion in revenue, KQ earned Ksh12.46 billion from cargo operations, demonstrating the sector’s economic significance.
JKIA has surpassed major African airports such as Cairo International Airport (Egypt) and O.R. Tambo International Airport (South Africa) in cargo handling.
However, on a global scale, JKIA’s cargo volumes remain modest compared to the world’s busiest cargo airports.
In 2023, Hong Kong International Airport led globally, handling over 4.3 million metric tonnes of cargo significantly higher than JKIA’s figures.
The latest award adds to JKIA’s growing list of accolades.
In October 2024, the airport was named Africa’s Leading Airport at the World Travel Awards, further solidifying its reputation in aviation excellence.
JKIA triumphed over top contenders in its category, including: Cape Town Airport (South Africa), Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (Morocco), Julius Nyerere Airport (Tanzania), Kigali Airport (Rwanda), King Shaka Airport (South Africa), and O.R. Tambo Airport (South Africa).
Kenya’s aviation sector has continued to make waves globally. Apart from JKIA’s victory, the country received several key awards in 2024, including:
• Africa’s Leading Airline – Kenya Airways
• Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class – Kenya Airways
• Africa’s Leading Airline Brand – Kenya Airways
• Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination – Nairobi City.
