Garissa Airstrip upgrade attracts new airline as expanded facilities increase flight options

Garissa Airstrip upgrade attracts new airline as expanded facilities increase flight options

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Abdirahman Khalif

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The upgraded Garissa Airstrip has attracted a second scheduled airline, with four weekly Nairobi-Garissa flights expected to improve regional connectivity, trade and investment.

The recent expansion of Garissa Airstrip is beginning to transform air travel in northern Kenya, with the upgraded facility attracting a new airline just weeks after the improved runway became operational.
The development is expected to boost flight options for passengers travelling between Nairobi and Garissa while supporting trade, investment and broader economic growth in the region.
Skyward Express has announced it will launch scheduled flights between Nairobi and Garissa, becoming the latest airline to serve the route after years in which Freedom Airlines was the county’s main scheduled operator.

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The move is being seen as an early sign that the upgraded airstrip is attracting more airline operators to invest in Garissa.
Ahead of the launch, officials from Skyward Express paid a courtesy call on the Garissa County Government, where they met a county delegation led by Roads, Transport and Public Works Executive Committee Member Nassir Mohamed Aden. The discussions centred on the airline’s planned operations and the opportunities created by the upgraded airport infrastructure.
The airline is set to begin commercial operations with its inaugural flight on Friday, August 7. It will then operate four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, offering travellers a faster alternative to the roughly six-hour road journey between Nairobi and Garissa.

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Speaking during the visit, Skyward Express delegation leader Augustine Mogoi said the airline had acquired an additional aircraft to support the new route and was preparing for future expansion as passenger demand grows.
He said the improvements at Garissa Airstrip now allow the airline to deploy both its 37-seater and 50-seater aircraft on the route.
“We will handle departures and arrivals from Wilson Airport where we have a dedicated terminal for our passengers, including a VIP lounge for the convenience, speed of access and comfort of our customers,” Mogoi said.
Mogoi also praised the Garissa County Government for investing in a passenger terminal, noting that many airport projects prioritise runway expansion while overlooking passenger facilities, even though terminals are where travellers spend most of their time and where much of an airport’s daily operations take place.
The expansion of Garissa Airstrip was jointly funded by the Garissa County Government and the Kenya Airports Authority. Under the partnership, the county government built a new passenger terminal, while the Kenya Airports Authority upgraded the operational side of the airport by extending the runway to 1.2 kilometres and widening it to 23 metres.
The project also included the construction of two 55-metre taxiways, a 230-metre aircraft parking apron and two turn pads.
The upgrades have improved aircraft movement within the airstrip and increased its capacity to handle more flights.
The enhanced infrastructure now enables the airstrip to accommodate larger aircraft, creating opportunities for more airlines to introduce scheduled services to Garissa. County officials believe the project will strengthen Garissa’s position as an aviation hub for northern Kenya and neighbouring regions.
They also expect the improved air connectivity to boost trade, tourism, investment and the hospitality sector in Garissa and neighbouring Tana River County.
According to county officials, the additional flights will make travel easier for residents, investors, development partners and business people travelling between Garissa, Nairobi and other parts of the country.
The arrival of a second scheduled airline is expected to increase competition on the route, giving passengers more travel options while improving access to the region.

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