Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl Airport (NBO) Flights & Flight Status

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi serves the capital and largest city in Kenya. The airport – now with multiple terminals – is located a convenient 11 miles outside of the central business district of Nairobi.

With over 50 destinations across the world, the airport services a host of airlines, including British Airways, United Airlines, Saudia, Lufthansa, KLM, Kenya Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Egyptair, Emirates. You’ll also find a host of low-cost carriers, including Fly 540, IndiGo and Hi Fly.

British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow (LHR) most mornings with a flight time of around 8 hours 50 minutes. For me, this is the perfect way to get to a safari holiday in Kenya or Tanzania. Here’s everything you need to know about travelling through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Taxis and rideshares

There are various ways to access Nairobi’s airport. The easiest – and still inexpensive – option is to use one of the local taxis, which are bright yellow and available 24/7. Note that rates are not set and need to be negotiated with the driver before setting off on a journey. Even though there are printed rates inside the cab, it’s best to confirm this price upfront.

Nairobi city centre is a roughly 30-minute drive from the airport and the fee varies based on your negotiation. Due to high traffic, in my experience the local taxi drivers tend to negotiate a higher fee, but it’s still reasonable. There are also rideshare options (such as Uber) available and you can connect to the airport’s Wi-Fi to book these via their apps. Taxis and rideshares all pick up at the same place, right outside the terminal building.

In my experience, it doesn’t necessarily work to book taxis ahead of time. To save yourself the trouble, just pick one up on arrival – you’ll never struggle to find one.

Buses and shuttles

There is an airport bus (route number 34) that runs on weekdays from 6 am to 9 pm. It takes about an hour to reach the city centre and the service runs every 20 minutes or so (though they’re not prompt, so don’t rely on their timing).

Most hotels in Nairobi will offer a shuttle or luxury car service to and from the airport, which you’ll have to arrange ahead of time. They also pick up right outside the terminal, with a sign and a friendly smile.

Car hire

Driving in Kenya is not without its difficulties – roads aren’t always paved and traffic can be nightmarish. I’ve found hiring a driver – booked beforehand via my accommodation – with a 4x4 vehicle is the best way to navigate the roads and driving conditions.

If you want to drive yourself, you’ll find two big brand options inside the terminal at the airport (with car pick up right outside in the car park): Avis and Hertz. They’re not necessarily open 24 hours a day, even if their websites show those opening hours, so it’s always worth checking in advance if your flight will be getting in late.

There are also smaller local companies that offer both drivers and car hire – Green Motion and Royal Umbrella are two I’d recommend.

Terminals

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is mostly for international flights, with 1A, 1B, 1C and 1E exclusively international and 1D hosting some domestic arrivals and departures. 1A is for arrivals and departures straight from the arrivals hall. 1B and 1C are departures only, also from the arrivals hall. 1E is for international departures – for arrivals, you’ll be bussed from the aircraft to the arrivals hall.

Terminal 2 is for regional airlines only – Kenya Airways and Jambojet are the best-known ones. There’s a free shuttle bus that runs between the terminals (you can access it right outside each terminal) and this daily service runs every 30 minutes from 5 am to 11 pm.

Check-in

There are check-in desks for all of the airlines flying out of Nairobi airport. Note that these desks are not always open and usually operate on the days the flight will depart or arrive. Plus, they usually open these desks a maximum of three hours before the departure time.

There are a few self-service kiosks at the airport, but not all airlines are served via these – though international flights via Kenya Airways, as well as KLM and Saudi flights, definitely use them. Terminal 1 is not large and you can easily walk between the different areas – A through to D – before security.

Airport facilities

Nairobi Airport is large, but not vast or difficult to navigate. You can walk from one end to the other in just a few minutes. There’s also enough seating throughout, with plenty of convenient plug points (note they use a three-way G plug here). Free Wi-Fi is available and easy to log into – though it may not be a secure connection, as there is no password required, so consider using a VPN.

At the airport, you’ll find an information desk and a police station for any queries; they speak good English and are open 24/7. The airport also has various ATMs dotted around, both through security and in the arrivals areas. This is where you can withdraw Kenyan shillings, in case you need cash. Standard Chartered Bank also has a currency exchange in the arrivals area.

Shops inside the airport

The airport has a decent duty-free shopping zone for international passengers. There you’ll find amazing crafts and arts from local manufacturers, making it the perfect place to pick up gifts for friends and loved ones. There’s also excellent Kenyan coffee, which I like to buy a few bags of every time I fly through here to take home. If you’re interested in Kenyan (or other African) wines, try the Kenya Wine Agencies’ booths in the duty-free area.

Airport food and drink

For a smallish airport, Jomo Kenyatta International has a good selection of places to grab a cup of famed Kenyan coffee and a bite to eat. My favourite is the Karibu Cafe (located at international arrivals), where they even offer a buffet lunch service. At domestic departures there’s the Safari Coffee shop serving Dorman’s coffee and snacks.

A self-service café near gate 4 on the international departures side is a great place to grab a hot meal or snack before your flight. And right next to check-in is The Pub, if you’d like to have a drink while waiting. For a fast-food option, The Kenchic Inn is a Kenyan classic that serves up roast chicken and fries.

Luggage storage

The small bush planes used to get to safari lodges often have very strict luggage weight requirements. So, I’ve used the luggage storage service here (available at the arrivals hall) many times, leaving my big suitcase there and just taking a smaller bag for the safari adventure. It requires a bit of paperwork, your passport and a small fee, but it's certainly a good option to have.

Luggage wrapping

Travelling around smaller airports in Africa, some passengers like to take extra precautions when it comes to their luggage. The airport therefore offers a security add on – at a cost – for luggage to be tightly wrapped in plastic. This prevents bumps, scratches and theft. I have used this service when travelling with gifts in my bag around the continent.

Lounges

The airport has various options in terms of business lounges, all of which offer dining, showers and business centres. In my experience, the Kenya Airways Pride business lounge is the nicest with the most up-to-date facilities, including very comfortable chaise longues for a little nap (that’s where you’re most likely to find me).