Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA): Q1 2026 Airport Capacity Analysis

Introduction.

In the first quarter of 2026, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport—Kenya’s primary international gateway—recorded a total of 2,364,237 available airline seats, translating to an average of approximately 26,269 daily seats. This performance reaffirms the airport’s strategic importance as a key regional hub in East Africa and a growing connector within the broader African aviation network.

Monthly performance trends indicate a gradual softening in capacity over the quarter, with January leading at 887,852 available seats, followed by February (747,459 available seats) and March (728,926 available seats). Despite this decline, overall capacity levels remained relatively stable, reflecting resilient demand fundamentals and sustained network operations.

Daily capacity trends reveal that 4 January recorded the highest seat volume at 33,958 available seats, closely followed by 2 January, indicative of strong early-year demand. In contrast, 17 February registered the lowest daily capacity at 14,900 available seats, largely due to operational disruptions caused by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) strike. March operations also trended below the quarterly daily average, influenced by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which impacted key routes—particularly to the UAE and Qatar—resulting in reduced frequencies and cautious capacity deployment by airlines.