The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has signalled plans to expand Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s (JKIA) aviation services beyond commercial passenger operations through the development of a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) and associated aviation facilities.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

KAA issued a tender notice on Tuesday, July 14, inviting eligible firms to bid for the development of the facility, with a pre-bid meeting scheduled for July 21 and the tender closing on July 30.

“The Kenya Airports Authority invites sealed tenders from eligible firms for the following tenders: Development of Fixed Base Operator (FBO) and Associated Aviation Facilities at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,” the notice stated.

An FBO is a company approved by an airport authority to provide aviation services such as aircraft fuelling, parking, hangar space and other support services for private and general aviation users.

📌 What You Need to Know

Larger airports often have several private FBOs competing to serve private, corporate and charter aircraft, while these services may be provided by the authority at smaller airports.

The proposed FBO facility would support private, corporate, charter and general aviation operations by providing specialised services for aircraft and passengers outside regular airline operations.

The development would include aviation support infrastructure that caters to aircraft handling, parking, passenger services and other operational needs for non-scheduled flights.

The move comes as JKIA undergoes a three-year Ksh154.2 billion upgrade project aimed at improving airport capacity, efficiency and infrastructure.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on July 3 announced that the phased modernisation project has already begun .

According to Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, it includes rehabilitation of JKIA’s airfield, upgrades to existing passenger terminals and construction of a new 10-million-passenger terminal facility.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke