Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Pushes Aviation Training Schools to Relocate from Congested Wilson Airport
Why It MattersThe push signals a regulatory move toward segregating flight training from commercial traffic at congested African hub airports, potentially reshaping regional training infrastructure.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is pressing aviation training organisations based at Nairobi's Wilson Airport to relocate to less congested facilities, citing safety concerns and rising costs linked to overcrowding.
KCAA Acting Director General Nicholas Bondo said congestion at Wilson Airport has placed growing pressure on flight training operations, compounded by the airport's role as a hub for domestic and regional services used by approximately a dozen local carriers. The mix of commercial traffic and student pilot operations has raised safety concerns for smaller training aircraft sharing the airspace and apron.
Bondo confirmed that regulatory discussions are ongoing to reduce landing and parking fees while incentivising training institutions to relocate, with Orly Airpark in Kajiado County, roughly 28 km south of Wilson Airport, proposed as a potential relocation site.
