A section of the Isiolo International Airport. [Photo/capitalfm.co.ke]
Isiolo County leaders have attributed the minimal operations at the Isiolo International Airport to inadequate facilities that do not allow cargo planes and large passenger aircraft to operate from the airport.
Speaking at the airport during a tour of the facility by the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority board members, Isiolo governor Mohamed Kuti said that the crucial facility will only be fully utilised once the runway which is only 1.4 kilometers long is extended to at least three kilometers to enable large aircrafts to land safely.
He also noted that planes are unable to land or take off at night due to lack of sufficient lighting adding that the facility also requires a control tower for ease of operations.
The governor urged the Kenya Airports Authority to fast-track the process of upgrading the said areas to give the airport a truly international status and enable the people from the region to benefit early from the facility.
Governor Kuti cautioned developers against constructing tall buildings close to the airport or along flight paths as such buildings could interfere with the safe landing and take-off of planes.
He said that the County government will work closely with the Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to regulate construction in the said areas.
The Airport manager Mohamed Lippi said that only one airline has been operating at the facility since it was opened in July last year. He said that the airline, which does only passenger flights operates small aircraft due to limitations of the short runway, adding that the facility also lacks crucial cargo shades hence cargo planes cannot do business at the facility.
He noted that businessmen are very ready to do business through the airport but the shortcomings do not allow that to happen.
The LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority Chairman Ambassador Francis Muthaura, however, said that the authority was happy with the progress at the airport, which is one of the Vision 2030 flagship projects, adding that plans are in place to extend the runway to enable operations by large commercial cargo and passenger aircraft.
Amb. Muthaura noted that the region has a lot of business potential that will be fully exploited once the facility is adequately upgraded.
Miraa businessmen from the neighboring Meru County and flower and wheat growers from Laikipia County still conduct their business through Wilson Airport due to the shortcomings at the Isiolo International Airport.
Muthaura said that the authority would push for prioritisation of the airport upgrading so that it is done within a reasonable time frame to enable the business to thrive and open up the region for more development.