Aviation plays a quiet but powerful role in Kenya’s economy. As clichéd as it may sound, the reality is that it continuously connects people, moves goods, supports tourism, and positions the country as a gateway to the region. As the travel industry continues to expand, the latest passenger data reveals a clear trend: Kenya’s international air travel is increasingly regional, with Africa firmly at the centre.
According to IATA Direct Data Solutions (DDS), Kenya recorded 2.3 million international origin-destination passenger departures in 2023, accounting for 40 per cent of all passenger departures. Africa emerged as the largest international market, taking 37 per cent of outbound passengers, ahead of Europe at 28 per cent and the Middle East at 13 per cent. In simple terms, more people flew from Kenya to other African countries than to any other part of the world.
In 2024, Kenya’s air travel sector maintained its upward trajectory, with overall airport traffic and international passenger volumes posting measurable growth. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that 12.83 million passengers transited through Kenyan airports in 2024, up from 12.21 million in 2023, representing a 5.1 per cent increase. International passenger traffic rose by 9.6 per cent, from 6.64 million in 2023 to 7.28 million in 2024, driven by the introduction and resumption of international routes by several carriers. This was not just a rebound in outbound travel but an indication of increased connectivity and choice across Kenya’s regional and global air services.
The momentum carried into 2025. According to the Kenya Airports Authority, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport alone handled about 8.6 million passengers during the year, exceeding its design capacity of 7.5 million and underscoring sustained demand for both domestic and international travel. Q2 figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that international departures rose by approximately 7.3 per cent, from 824,640 in the second quarter of 2024 to 885,139 in the same period in 2025. International arrivals grew by 3.3 per cent over the same period.
This pattern is not accidental. It points to deepening economic ties, growing regional mobility, and Nairobi’s evolving role as a connector city within Africa.
A closer look at the top international city destinations from Kenya reinforces this shift. While traditional long-haul markets remain important, regional cities now dominate the travel map. London ranked first with 164,200 passengers, followed by Dubai with 126,900 passengers. Close behind were Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Zanzibar, Addis Ababa, and Kigali, placing six African cities among the top ten destinations.
Entebbe alone recorded 121,700 passengers, accounting for 5.2 per cent of all international departures from Kenya. Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg each accounted for just over 3 per cent, while Addis Ababa and Kigali continued to post solid volumes, reflecting strong business, diplomatic, and transit traffic. These are not fringe routes. They are the backbone of Kenya’s international aviation activity.
Taken together, these flows point to a bigger story. Kenya accounts for just 0.2 per cent of global international passenger traffic, ranking 88th worldwide. Within Africa, however, it punches well above its weight, handling about 3.3 per cent of regional international passenger traffic. This gap highlights Nairobi’s growing importance as a regional hub rather than a purely global origin point.
Passenger momentum is also building. International departures grew by 21.5 per cent in 2023, contributing to steady cumulative growth over the past decade despite the sharp disruption caused by the pandemic. For airlines, this has reinforced the value of high-frequency short-haul and medium-haul African routes, which offer resilient demand and faster turnaround times compared to long-haul markets.
This regional tilt aligns closely with broader policy ambitions. The African Continental Free Trade Area and the Single African Air Transport Market were designed to make it easier for Africans to move, trade, and do business across borders. While implementation remains uneven, passenger data suggests that demand is already moving ahead of policy.
Frequent connections between Nairobi and cities such as Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa, and Kigali support far more than leisure travel. They enable business mobility, professional services, regional supply chains, and time-sensitive cargo. In that sense, aviation is not merely responding to integration. It is actively driving it.
Still, growth brings responsibility. As traffic volumes rise, pressure on airport infrastructure, airspace management, and regulatory oversight will increase. Maintaining safety, reliability, and efficiency will be critical if Nairobi is to strengthen its position as a trusted regional hub.
Kenya’s aviation story is no longer only about flying far. It is increasingly about connecting Africa to itself efficiently and consistently through Nairobi. If supported by smart policy, infrastructure investment, and regional cooperation, that role could become one of the country’s most durable economic advantages.
In aviation, as in trade, proximity matters. And right now, Africa is where Kenya’s skies are busiest.
By Felix Wakiuru
