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Kenya, October 23 ,2026 - The Kenya Airports Authority is advancing plans to revise commercial rates and concession terms for businesses operating at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport and other facilities under its management, as part of a broader strategy to boost non-aeronautical revenue and support major infrastructure upgrades.
The proposed adjustments come at a pivotal moment for Kenya’s aviation sector. JKIA, the country’s main international gateway, has been operating beyond its original design capacity for years.
Passenger numbers have continued to climb, with KAA reporting more than 12 million passengers across its network in the period to May 2026. At the same time, the authority is pushing ahead with a Sh154.2 billion design-and-build contract signed with China Road and Bridge Corporation to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and construct a new passenger terminal expected to raise annual capacity significantly.
That expansion follows the collapse of the earlier Adani-backed concession deal in 2024, which had been intended to deliver a major overhaul of JKIA under a long-term private operator model. With the government now funding the upgrade through a mix of loans, bonds and public resources, KAA faces pressure to generate more income from commercial activities on airport land.
Retail outlets, restaurants, lounges, fixed-base operators for private jets, fuel stations, business complexes and advertising spaces are all being targeted for higher or restructured contributions.
Recent tender documents illustrate the direction of travel. For an ultra-modern business complex at Wilson Airport, bidders have been required to propose a Minimum Annual Guarantee payable to KAA, with a floor of Sh3 million, alongside a concession fee of 4 per cent of gross receipts from commercial activities.
Similar structures appear in tenders for retail and restaurant facilities at JKIA and Moi International Airport in Mombasa, where percentage-based fees on turnover and fixed minimum guarantees are standard. At JKIA, a planned fixed-base operator facility for private and business aviation includes minimum annual guarantees in the hundreds of thousands of dollars plus percentage takes on retail, hotel and lounge revenues.
Wilson Airport presents a particularly acute case. The facility, a key hub for domestic flights, safari charters, flight training and general aviation, has struggled with congestion. An Auditor-General report highlighted that around 90 grounded aircraft were occupying valuable apron space, some without paying parking fees, resulting in direct revenue losses for KAA.
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Aircraft movements at Wilson have risen sharply in recent years, intensifying competition for limited space and underscoring the need for both physical upgrades and more efficient commercial management.
The rate revisions sit alongside other revenue measures already implemented. Passenger service charges were increased in late 2025, international tickets from $40 to $50 and domestic from Sh500 to Sh600, with a 2026 law streamlining how those funds are distributed among KAA, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the meteorological service and the Tourism Fund. Additional fees, such as the API/PNR charge of about $4.95 on international journeys, have also been introduced.
For businesses currently operating or seeking space at the airports, the changes mean higher occupancy costs or a shift toward turnover-based payments that rise with passenger volumes. KAA’s approach mirrors global airport practice, where non-aeronautical income from shops, food outlets, lounges and property is critical to funding operations and expansion without over-relying on airline landing and passenger fees.
Higher commercial yields are intended to help finance the JKIA terminal works, improve facilities at Wilson and regional airports, and keep Kenya competitive against rapidly expanding hubs in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Critics of rising airport charges argue that increased costs for retailers and service providers are often passed on to passengers through higher prices for food, retail goods and ancillary services, potentially affecting Kenya’s attractiveness as a transit and tourism destination. Supporters counter that under-priced commercial space has long constrained KAA’s ability to maintain and expand facilities, and that modern, well-managed retail and service offerings actually enhance the passenger experience and generate more overall economic activity.
The proposals form part of a multi-year commercialisation drive that includes tenders for restaurants across JKIA terminals, advertising media, ground handling and taxi services at regional airports, and larger mixed-use developments. As the Sh154 billion JKIA project moves forward , subject to ongoing court-ordered transparency requirements on the contract details , the authority is clearly positioning commercial revenue as a central pillar of its financial strategy. Businesses at Kenya’s airports can expect more structured, performance-linked charging regimes in the months ahead.