The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has approved a fresh batch of air service licenses, opening up new international and domestic routes for travelers across Kenya and the region.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The approvals were ratified through a gazette notice dated August 7, detailing Eldoret as among the biggest winner, set to gain a new international connection linking the town to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia through Nairobi, boosting its global reach.

"PURSUANT to the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act No. 21 of 2013 and the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations, 2025 (Regulation 28) notice is given that the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has made decisions on applications for air service licenses whose particulars were previously published in the Kenya Gazette Notice No. 4166 of 19th March, 2026," the notice stated in part

The approvals cover cargo, passenger, and mail services on multiple routes connecting Kenyan cities to destinations in the Middle East, East Africa, and beyond.

📌 What You Need to Know

Some operators received international non-scheduled licenses for passenger, cargo, and mail transport between Kenya, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia, valid for one to three years. Other approvals target aerial work services, including crop spraying, wildlife surveys, aerial photography, firefighting support, and game counting across East Africa and beyond.

Additionally, several domestic scheduled routes also got the green light, connecting Nairobi to towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Lodwar, Malindi, Lamu, amd Garissa.

Flying instruction services within Kenya's jurisdiction also received approval, meaning more local pilots could soon train using aircraft based at various airports, including Wilson and Malindi.

KCAA noted that operators will use different aircraft types stationed at key hubs, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Wilson Airport, and other regional airstrips.

The approvals were issued under Regulation 28 of the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations 2025, alongside the Civil Aviation Act No. 21 of 2013.

However, not every application sailed through, since some services, including certain scheduled routes to African capitals, were declined by the authority.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke