Moi International Airport

Moi International Airport (IATA: MBA, ICAO: HKMO) is the international airport of Mombasa, the second-largest city in Kenya. The other two important international airports in Kenya include the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, and the Kisumu International Airport (KIA) in Kisumu, Kenya's third largest city. It is located in Mombasa County in a township called Port Reitz, and features regional as well as intercontinental flights.

For the airport in the Cook Islands with the IATA code MOI, see Mitiaro Airport.

Moi International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic, Civilian
OperatorKenya Airports Authority
ServesMombasa
LocationMombasa, Kenya
Elevation AMSL200 ft / 61 m
Coordinates04°02′24″S 39°35′24″E
Website
Map
MBA
Location of Moi International Airport in Kenya
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 10,990 3,350 Asphalt
15/33 4,473 1,363 Asphalt
Statistics (2013)
Passenger numbers1,313,168[1]

Overview

Moi International Airport serves the city of Mombasa and surrounding communities. It lies approximately 425 kilometres (264 mi), by air, southeast of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the country.[2] Mombasa Airport is operated by Kenya Airports Authority. It was named after former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi during his tenure.

At 61 metres (200 ft) above sea level,[3] the airport has two runways: Runway 1 measures 3,350 metres (10,990 ft) in length and Runway 2 measures 1,260 metres (4,130 ft) in length.[4] Runway 1 is also known as Runway 03/21, while Runway 2 is also known as Runway 15/33. Runway 1 is equipped with an ILS (Instrument Landing System).

There are two terminals at the airport. Terminal 1 is primarily used for international flights, while Terminal 2 is used for domestic flights. Some airlines such as Kenya Airways use Terminal 1 for both domestic and international.

In September 2018, it was confirmed that Qatar Airways would be introducing four weekly flights to Mombasa operating with the A320. The first flight commenced on 11 December 2018, with a flight time from Doha of just over 6 hours.[5]

History

The airport was built during the Second World War by the Engineer Corps of the South African Army. During the war, it was used by the Fleet Air Arm as a land base of the British Eastern Fleet which was based at nearby Kilindini Harbour from 1942, by the Royal Air Force (AHQ East Africa and No. 246 Wing RAF) which operated anti-submarine Catalina flying boats off the East Africa coast and by the South African Air Force which was engaged in the war against Italy in Abyssinia. It was originally known as Port Reitz Airport.

Mombasa Airport was expanded to an international airport in 1979. Aircraft Maintenance facilities for private and light- to medium-size commercial aircraft are provided from government and private hangars by Benair Aircraft Engineering, licensed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) as an approved maintenance organisation (AMO).

Starting on the 18th of August 1992, Moi International Airport was used as the headquarters for the US Central Command's regional command and control headquarters for Operation Provide Relief until December 4 of that same year when it was subordinated and merged with Operation Restore Hope. The initial deployment of personnel from US Central Command included tactical communications specialists from the Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE).

From July to September 1994, Moi International Airport was used almost continuously as a refueling station during the Operation Support Hope humanitarian mission into Rwanda. Empty C-141 and C-5 freighter jets returning to Europe flew to Mombasa due to the scarcity of fuel in the African interior. The airlift through Mombasa ceased by October due to runway expansion work.

Airlines and destinations
Apron view
Departure gate area
AirlinesDestinations
AnimawingsSeasonal charter: Bucharest[6]
Blue Panorama AirlinesSeasonal: Milan-Malpensa, Rome-Fiumicino
Enter AirSeasonal charter: Katowice, Warsaw-Chopin
Ethiopian AirlinesAddis Ababa
Fly540Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta, Zanzibar
Fly-SAXMoroni
GullivAirSeasonal charter: Bucharest (begins 3 March 2021)[7]
JambojetNairobi–Jomo Kenyatta
Kenya AirwaysNairobi–Jomo Kenyatta
LOT Polish AirlinesSeasonal charter: Warsaw-Chopin
Lufthansa Frankfurt (begins 31 March 2021)1[8]
Mombasa Air SafariAmboseli, Keekorok, Lamu, Malindi, Masai Mara, Ukunda/Diani Beach
NeosMilan–Malpensa
Seasonal: Rome–Fiumicino, Verona
Qatar AirwaysDoha
RwandAirDubai–International, Kigali
Smartwings PolandSeasonal charter: Prague, Warsaw-Chopin
TUI fly Netherlands Seasonal: Amsterdam
Turkish Airlines Istanbul2
Uganda Airlines Entebbe
Note

1: Lufthansa' Frankfurt to Mombasa flights continue to Zanzibar whilst Mombasa to Frankfurt flights originate at Zanzibar. However, the airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Zanzibar and Mombasa in either direction.

2: Turkish Airlines' inbound flights from Istanbul to Mombasa make a stop in Kilimanjaro. However, the airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Kilimanjaro and Mombasa.

References
  1. "sadimsolutions.com » Kenyan airports passenger traffic declines by 5% 2013". sadimsolutions.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  2. "Distance between Mombasa () (Airport) and Jomo Kenyatta Airport Nairobi (Nairobi Area) (Kenya)". GlobeFeed.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  3. "Mombasa – Moi International Airport (MBA)". AirGorilla. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  4. "Mombasa - Moi Int´l Airport (MBA/HKMO)". Virtual Globetrotting. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  5. "Qatar Airways Launches Second Destination in Kenya with New Flights to Mombasa".
  6. "Animawings: Flights from Bucharest to Mombasa, Kenya". boardingpass.ro.
  7. "GullivAir: charter flights from Bucharest to Mombasa in March and April 2021". boardingpass.ro.
  8. https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/newsroom/releases/summer-2021-six-new-long-haul-tourist-destinations-from-frankfurt.html

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