JKIA’s new Terminal 1A processes first commercial flight

KENYA AIRWAYS OPERATES FIRST EVER COMMERCIAL FLIGHT OUT OF TERMINAL 1A

(Posted 23rd July 2014)

Yesterday morning saw the first ever commercial flight processed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s brand new Terminal 1A and it was national airline Kenya Airways which was given the honour to be the first, The Pride of Africa matched with what surely is the pride of Kenya’s aviation sector.

The morning flight KQ 762 to Johannesburg was checked in from the new terminal and passengers were able to experience the new glass, steel and marble building from the inside, and the first, after the ‘trial passengers’ to enjoy the vast spaces which will mark the end of the overcrowding at the present international concourse. The new terminal has a single point security check, also a marked improvement over the multiple checks in the old facility and notably offers passengers flying First and Business Class a dedicated access point into the terminal and of course with a number of dedicated check in terminals. Kenya Airways offers a state of the art lounge for their premium passengers and, when fully operational, will economy class passengers also be able to enjoy much improved boarding gate spaces, duty free shopping and a range of restaurants where to pass the time until the flight is called.

image170

image171

The passengers boarded their Boeing B787 Dreamliner ‘The Great Rift Valley’ through an air bridge connecting terminal and plane, making the start of the journey much more enjoyable than being bussed to an aircraft parking position on a distant apron and being exposed to rain and shine.

KQ will operate up to four flights from the new terminal until all potential bottlenecks have been identified and ironed out before sometime in August full operations will commence and Kenya Airways’ partner airlines and other carriers progressively move to the new Terminal 1A, making way for the start of refurbishing the former Units 1 and 2, now named Terminal 1B and Terminal 1C.

Watch this space for breaking and regular aviation news from across Eastern Africa.