Kenyan leaders to launch Kisumu International Airport

Kenyan leaders to launch Kisumu International Airport

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga will today launch the Kisumu International Airport after a major three year refurbishment project. The airport was earlier scheduled for the big launch in December last year, as reported on this blog but the launch was rescheduled to Thursday 2nd February 2012.

The airport's new facilities will include a modern apron, a terminal building and access roads as well as a car parking lot that can accommodate up to 1500 cars. The airport upgrade project was undertaken by the Chinese Overseas Engineering Company and was launched on July 25, 2009 by the same two leaders.

A section of the Kisumu International Airport

The upgrade project involved the extension of the airport runway from the previous 2km to 3.3km to accommodate larger aircraft. The airport will handle Boeing 767s, Airbus 310 and 300, bigger aircraft which could previously not land or take off on the shorter runway. The apron area is also being enlarged and this, according to the airport manager, will allow cargo aircraft to land in Kisumu.

With the upgrades, Kisumu is now open to international air traffic and the government will now be able to grant landing rights to international airlines which will have expressed an interest in servicing the route. Currently, Kisumu handles only domestic flights and is serviced by three domestic airlines. Kenya Airways has already deployed the Embraer 190 on the route with a capacity of 96 passengers.


Kisumu, pitfalls and opportunities
The launch of the Kisumu International Airport has definitely given the lakeside city an infrastructural boost but the hard part is in attracting business to the Kisumu Airport by airport management authorities and the city council authorities. Air traffic in Kenya is still very tourist driven and Kisumu still is not a major tourist attraction due to lack of investments in the region's tourism/hospitality infrastructure. The shores of the lakes are largely underdeveloped and the city has a few bed spaces hence cannot handle a major influx of tourists and visitors, or host major conferences or events without facing a crisis in hotel and accommodation. The city will need to put its act together.

Kisumu International Airport

In some way, the cart has come before the horse in Kisumu and investors in the region will have to work day and night to create new opportunities for the optimum utilization of the airport in order to boost growth in the city's and the wider Western Kenya region's economy. The expansion of the Kisumu Airport alone will not draw in investors and tourists but the city's value proposition will do that.

People will not just travel to Kisumu because there's an International Airport. Kisumu must offer potential investors and tourists some value be it in beautiful scenery, excellent hospitality facilities and quality services, more tour facilities beyond just "the Obama magic". Areas such as cruising on the lake are underexploited or unexplored altogether. Perhaps Kisumu can also draw some lessons from Bujumbura and Entebbe on building world class tourist resorts on lakeshores.

There are huge opportunities in hosting regional conferences for the larger East African community, conferences on Lake Victoria and other environmental causes, sports tourism, fish exports, flower farming but these will require concerted investment efforts by the Kisumu business community.

While the commercial potential of Kisumu's International Airport is currently very limited, the airport can make in innovative services what it lacks in passenger traffic and number of flights by investing in the retail side of the airport business through services such as airport Wifi, retail and duty free shops, restaurants, supermarkets for some extra ancillary revenue. Innovative thinking, both from the business community and the airport management will be key to making Kisumu a success.

Kisumu Entebbe Flights could be feasible
Kisumu sits at a strategic location in the East African Community and as Kenya's gateway to the Central Africa. This could work to its advantage if for example in the future, the EAC can establish some administrative functions in Kisumu. It's proximity to Uganda and Central Africa means Kisumu is a major transit city for many Ugandans, Rwandans , Burundians and Congolese and even tourists traveling to the Central Africa. Given the brisk business between Kisumu and Uganda and the large presence of the Ugandan community in Kisumu, Kisumu-Entebbe Flights could be feasible. Potential also exists in Kisumu-Mombasa non stop flights.

The Kenyan government is in an ongoing crash program to modernize its aviation infrastructure in order for the country to become even more competitive that's seen it launch various airport upgrade projects. For Kisumu, the task of building a competitive regional economy has just began.


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Kenya Airways: The Staggering Cost of Becoming Number 1 in Africa

Kenya Airways: The Staggering Cost of Becoming Number 1 in Africa

Carrier Needs over $2 billion to become airline of choice in Africa

Details have emerged about the potential cost of Kenya Airways’ drive to become the number one airline of choice in Africa, connecting the continent’s various destinations via their Nairobi hub.

 Only recently did ‘The Pride of Africa’ sign a record breaking deal of 10 firm orders and 16 options with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, which, should all options to turn into firm orders as, will double the size of the carrier’s current fleet. Also, when Boeing delivers nine 787 aircraft on firm order, it will allow KQ to add more long haul destinations such as flights to the US, India and the emerging tourism markets in the Far East and the South East.

The cost however is mindboggling with figures ranging from 2+ billion US Dollars upwards, according to sources in Kenya. The forthcoming share rights issue by Kenya Airways is expected to create a core fund to finance this growth, but borrowing and retaining profits at the expense of higher dividends will be other avenue the airline will have to use to be able to pay for the ambitious expansion plans.

At the same time there is intensive lobbying going on to have government boost aviation infrastructure at the country’s main airport in Nairobi, where a second runway is a must to roll out the fleet expansion, while more terminal space and parking spaces for aircraft too are required in order to handle the added passenger and aircraft load. Delays by past KAA management are now coming home to roost as capacity constraints are not only hampering Kenya Airways’ growth plans, but also prevent more airlines from flying to Nairobi or just boosting the number of the existing flights.

 Post courtesy Wolfganghthome blog
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Kisumu airport to open doors in one month

Kisumu airport to open doors in one month

The much-awaited Kisumu International Airport will be officially commissioned in a month’s time, as engineers wind-up construction works. 

Airport manager Joseph Okumu told The Standard that works at the new site was now 98 per cent complete.
"What we are doing now is test runs to ensure that all is ready as we look forward to opening up the facility to the public," explained Okumu.

Some of the works that are yet to be completed include ground lightening, visual aids and markings at the runway.
Okumu said the new terminal building will be able to handle 600 to 700 persons per hour, translating to two million traffic per annum. 

This will surpass the current traffic of 300,000 and will see it accommodate big planes such as Boeing 767 and the 737 planes. 

It was also allow Airbus 310, which can carry up to 250 passengers to land in the lakeside town.
At the weekend, former Nigerian president Oleisugun Obasanjo tested the facility when he flew direct from Abuja to Kisumu International Airport.
 
The former head of state was leading a powerful delegation from Nigeria on a two-day familiarisation tour of the Sh2 billion mechanised rice-farming ventures by the American-based Dominion group of companies.
"This was part of the test runs that we allowed to see how effective we are as we map the Kisumu international route," explained Okumu.

The new airport is likely to build the Nyanza economy coming as the region recovers from the rigors of post-poll violence and the subsequent global economic crunch. Already, a number of investors are eyeing the town and are rushing to set up business in order to tap the export market.

Dismantle arrangementA team of Norwegian investors has unveiled plans to put up a S4.1 million Tilapia fish-farming project and processing plant, which will be based in Nyando constituency. The group hopes to produce enough fish for export to the Europe, Asia, and pacific and Caribbean countries with the anticipated opening of Kisumu international Airport.

Another Sh837 million project that will see to the harvesting and re-use of hyacinth is expected to generate up to Sh7.6 billion a year. The project will be undertaken jointly by Kenya, US and Canada under the banner of Hyaquip.
The developments are part of effort that the area leaders have been making to woo investors back to the town, which suffered tremendous economic backlash following the 2007/08 post-election violence.

Kisumu airport expansion project, estimated to be worth Sh3 billion, begun on October 29, 2009 and was supposed to be complete in August this year. But Nyanza leaders, led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga asked for more funds to extend the runway, which delayed completion date.

Once opened, Kisumu International Airport will be among the top eight busiest regional airports in East Africa.
It will be elevated to international airport status, thereby joining the league of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport, Mombasa. 

The airport is expected to create more than 30,000 jobs, fuel business growth and stir up East African economies by boosting bilateral trade.

Post Credit: The Standard Online Edition

KISUMU AIRPORT SET FOR COMPLETION

KISUMU AIRPORT SET FOR COMPLETION

Following news a few days ago that Malindi’s airport construction was nearly complete and the commissioning of the new facilities, i.e. passenger terminal, shops, restaurants and the new control tower was only weeks away, was additional information sent to this correspondent over the weekend that Kisumu’s airport too was now counting down to the end of construction work on terminals, the expanded runway and other facilities.

Catapulted to international fame when President Obama, whose paternal relatives live near Kisumu, was elected to the presidency of the United States, Kisumu has long been in the shadow of other cities and municipalities in Kenya when it came to economic development but its elevation to city status a few years ago and keen interest by domestic and international investors in agriculture, the fishing industry and tourism has changed much of that.

Investments will now see a boost from the new aviation facilities, as larger planes can finally land in Kisumu, also allowing for direct flights from abroad, while connections with Nairobi are now at a record high, with national carrier Kenya Airways operating three daily frequencies while Fly540 and Jetlink too are flying on the route. The longer runway will also at last allow for direct export by air of fresh fish fillets to the consumer markets in Europe and the Middle East, as wide bodied cargo planes will be able to take off with full load to their final destination, similar to the ‘sister airport’ across the lake at Entebbe. This is thought to also open the door for export of agricultural products like fruits and vegetables, which in the past needed to be trucked to Nairobi for processing, giving a boost to agro investments in this fertile part of Kenya.

Some good news at last for the Kenya Airport Authority, which has been struggling with an image of incompetence vis a vis its management of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and the slow pace of construction work there.

Post Credit

Kenya Airports Authority Lying to the Public over Vandalism Claims

Kenya Airports Authority Lying to the Public over Vandalism Claims

The Kenya Airport Authority only managed to pour more fuel into the fire of discontent over their dismal performance of late, when their Managing Director yesterday blamed vandals for the power outages.

Incompetent? Eng. Stephen Gichuki, Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director

‘The man is not only incompetent, and his staff responsible are incompetent too, now they are also lying to us. How can they blame vandalism of cables in a secured area. Has anyone heard of intrusion into the airport perimeter, cutting of fences or climbing them? Had police got any evidence that there was in fact vandalism or that the power substation was broken into? Has KAA filed a case with police? That cable is underground so who can access it from above? And if anyone intruded into the secure area, what does that mean for KAA’s security measures in place? This is pure hogwash and they know it. They are trying to absolve themselves from blame and by lying make it worse. They must resign or be fired for negligence and incompetence. And no, you cannot use my name because these people are very vindictive and can cause our airline a lot of problems’ said a regular source to this correspondent yesterday evening when discussing KAA’s latest attempt to shift blame from themselves to ‘others’ who remain unnamed.

Airlines are demanding huge compensation from KAA for flight diversions and the resulting costs of passengers missing flights and having to be accommodated, the extra fuel to reach diversion airports and related cost caused by a string of recent power outages at East Africa’s most important international aviation gateway. Meanwhile is a crippling electricity deficit of up to 200 MW causing power rationing across Kenya, following suit to Tanzania’s perennial power shortages and of late similar problems in Uganda, leaving businesses, in particular the hotel industry and manufacturing reeling from the added cost of doing business by using in house generators which at present prices of diesel and petrol are eating deep into their bottom line.

Post Credit

Finally, Kisumu International Airport set for Global TakeOff

Finally, Kisumu International Airport set for Global TakeOff

The third busiest airport in Kenya has seen a transformation from domestic to international standards, raising hopes it will spur regional economic growth and lower the historic poverty levels.

Kisumu Airport had been serving just ten airlines flying domestic routes and only carrying passengers.

In October 2008, the expansion and the upgrading of the airport began, with a total of Sh3 billion being set aside by the government and the World Bank to improve the strategic airport.

The runway, which was initially 2.1 kilometres was extended a kilometre longer, while its width was extended by 15 meters to accommodate larger planes.

The airport’s apron has also been expanded, and a new terminus that can attend to up to 700 passengers per hour was built. The terminal has the ability to check in passengers for eight flights simultaneously.

Although the airport was intended to be completed in 22 months, construction works were delayed due to constant wrangles between the Kenya Airports Authority and members of the clan, who live in areas surrounding the airport.


The completion of the construction works at the airport sparks new hopes for investors in the western region, who are optimistic that the expansion and upgrading to international standards will boost the region’s economy by opening up new business opportunities.


 Farmers and businessmen have started introducing new crops, products and investments in preparation for the commissioning of the airport and introduction of cargo flights.

Earlier this month, the authority unveiled a new raft of investment opportunities, which included provision of aviation fuel, ground handling services and the management of an automated car park.

“We are now focusing on enhancing new business opportunities and encouraging people to open up more,” KAA managing director Stephen Gichuki said during a stake holder’s business forum in the lake side city.

After commissioning, Kisumu International Airport will have large aircraft like the Boeing B737 and B767 landing safely.

The third busiest airport in the country has recorded steady growth in passenger numbers. In December last year, passenger numbers increased to 24,271 up from 16,989 in 2009.

The expansion which has lasted two years is expected to offer an estimated 30,000 jobs and boost bilateral trade.

Apart from the direct earning expected from businesses and employment, Nyanza Province and the whole of western region expects to receive a higher number of domestic and foreign tourists.

Locals also enjoy enhanced security while value for land adjacent to the facility has appreciated tremendously.

Several construction projects have also sprung up around the facility while numerous hotels have been built or are under construction within and around the lake side city.

Even nearby towns like Ahero are now feeling the growth ahead of the commissioning of the new facility which will greatly open up the region for serious business with the rest of the world. Fish, horticultural products will now be exported directly to Europe and other world markets.

During a visit to the facility earlier this month however, the PS Cyrus Njiru of the Ministry of Transport said that the facility will not hold cargo flights yet, but collaboration between several stake holders would speed up cargo handling facilities and the emergence of cargo flights.

“The second phase of the airport expansion will concentrate on handling cargo flights, being the biggest need of the area that requires economic growth and poverty eradication” Mr Njiru said.

“We can now proudly say that the airport expansion and upgrading has been successful despite the various challenges that the Ministry and the Kenya Airports Authority faced” Mr Njiru said.

The PS attributed the delay in completion to the need to meet international standards and expectations of travellers, now that the facility was being transformed.

“The government needed to deliver a fist class international airport and fit it in the class stipulated by Vision 2030,” Mr Njiru said.

Construction Kisumu International Airport Finally Coming to Conclusion

Construction Kisumu International Airport Finally Coming to Conclusion

Construction on the expanded runway, taxiway and apron is gradually nearing completion at the Kisumu airport, after the terminal building and other facilities had been upgraded and expanded before already.

The ‘new’ Kisumu airport, which on the occasion of ‘inaugurating’ it by the end of July is expected to be named a new international airport, will then have runway of 3.3 kilometres length, capable for the landing and takeoff by all wide bodied aircraft presently in use. Passenger throughput capacity has been raised to as many as 700 per hour, although that is not expected to be fully utilized until a much later stage.

Presently the airport is served by daily jet and turboprop flights from Nairobi and airlines like Kenya Airways, Fly 540 and Jetlink, amongst others, offer a choice of connections spread across the day to suit business and leisure travelers.

After Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Malindi and Eldoret, Kisumu’s importance as an aviation gateway has significantly increased in recent years, taking the airport to number three amongst the ‘main’ airports, i.e. after Nairobi and Mombasa, with Wilson Airport, due to its special status for general aviation as well as ‘safari flights’ being in a different league altogether. Watch this space for the announcement later in July, that the ‘tape’ was officially cut, making ‘Kisumu International’ finally a reality.

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