Zegabi

Kenya’s International airport has resumed normal operations a month after the international arrivals terminal went up in flames. The airport now has the capacity to handle 9,000 passengers daily.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has taken down several tents which have been serving as the international arrivals terminal since the fire.

The authority has converted a parking garage near terminal two into the new arrivals terminal and reopened the airport to all airlines. About 200 million Kenyan shillings were spent on converting the garage into an arrivals lounge. The garage will remain in use until the reconstruction of the burnt terminal is complete. KAA has received a total of $88 million from the World Bank and the African Development Bank to go towards the reconstruction which is expected to take about four months.

KAA acting managing director Lucy Mbugua says that the burnt building will have to be brought down and a new building built in its place. “Plans are underway to bring in a new prefabricated airport terminal because we only plan to use the parking garage for the next four months and we are also accelerating work on Terminal 4 so that it is ready for use by the end of the year,” she explained.

Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni has applauded KAA for its creativity and hard work in restoring normal operations at the airport. He has also sought to assure passengers that there is no problem with flight connections despite reports that passengers from West Africa are cancelling their flights or seeking alternative routes.

Investigations into the fire are still ongoing and the relevant security agencies will release their findings to the public as soon as the investigation is completed.