Once called Embakasi Airport, then Nairobi International Airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, named after Kenya’s first president and prime minister, is Nairobi’s main international airport and the busiest airport in both Kenya and East Africa as a whole. Located 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Nairobi, a 15- to 25-minute Uber trip depending on the traffic, Jomo Kenyatta Airport is the number one gateway for travel in and out of Kenya, its capital, and East Africa.
JKIA terminals
Nairobi Airport currently operates 2 terminals with an airport shuttle running between them.
Nairobi Airport Terminal 1
The circular Terminal 1 is divided into different departure and arrival zones for a variety of international and domestic airlines. Zones 1E and 1A are for international arrivals, with 1A also hosting a number of domestic airlines and Chinese airlines, Zone 1B is primarily for European airlines, 1C has a variety of airlines operating across the African continent and the Middle East, while 1D serves domestic flights.
JKIA Terminal 2
Terminal 2 in Nairobi Airport is a single-segment building mostly used by low-cost airline carriers for several domestic and inter-African airlines.
Hotels near Nairobi Airport
If you’ve got a long layover, there are plenty of hotel options around Jomo Kenyatta Airport that will save you from a night of trying to get some rest in the terminals. With Nairobi only a short Uber trip away, however, many accommodations and hotels near Jomo Kenyatta Airport within the city are also accessible.
NBO services
Many services and facilities available at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport can help your trip go more smoothly. Whether you’re on the way out or in, you can find shower facilities for a quick preflight or post-flight refresh, as well as smoking rooms on-site. Ask an attendant at the airport for further details.
Nairobi Airport lounge areas
Regardless of what part of the airport you’re flying from or airline you’re flying on, you can find a variety of premium and pay-to-stay airport lounges around Nairobi Airport to rest up, relax, or just spend some time before your flight.
Shopping malls in Nairobi
If you’re in the city for a visit or just waiting around on a layover, take some time to stop by one of the city’s famous malls. You can make a day trip to any of the malls and outlets on the way from Nairobi Airport to the city center, as well as those in the city center itself. Stop for lunch, pick up some souvenirs, and be back in time for your flight.