NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 10 – Air travellers were on Wednesday night stranded for close to seven hours at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after their flights were delayed due to a technical hitch.
The airport was shut down following a breakdown of the runway edge lights, centre line and taxi way lights.
Kenya Airways Corporate Communications Manager Chris Karanja however said that normal operations resumed at 2.15am after 80 percent of the runway lights went back into use.
“The problem was rectified sometimes in the night and now our flights are back as scheduled. Passengers should not have any problem travelling with us now,” Mr Karanja stated.
“The team that was working on the ground said that by 2.00am, the flights would be back on schedule,” he said.
“The airport closed operations at around 9.00pm to facilitate repairs on the runway.”
All incoming flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were diverted to neighbouring airports as a result of the failure.
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in East and Central Africa.
It serves as a transit hub for major airlines as well as the gateway for visitors to Africa\\\’s treasured game parks, cultural heritage, scenic landscapes and business opportunities. The airport also serves as a major cargo centre for both inbound and outbound goods.
The JKIA is situated in Nairobi, 20 minutes from the Central Business District and is served by shuttle services, taxis and other commuter services.
Most major hotels in Nairobi also have their stations at the arrival terminal which may provide transport for their guests and other services.
Shopping, banking, postal and transport facilities and lounges are in excellent condition with even more major and minor terminal developments ongoing to ensure maximum passenger comfort.
Plans are currently underway to expand the airport by including the expansion of parking facilities and floor space to enable the growth of additional services.
Initially designed for passenger traffic of 2.5 million people per year, the airport currently handles an upwards of four million passengers every year.
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