[The newly rehabilitated Isiolo International Airport. The airport is set to start operations in two weeks' time.] (kaa.go.ke)The Isiolo International Airport will kick off its operations in two weeks, Transport Principal Secretary Paul Mainga has said.
Completion of the last stage of construction works on the 1.4-kilometre runway is underway and expected to be concluded in less than a week.
The PS who inspected the facility on Thursday gave a go-ahead for the airport to begin operations, but only for domestic flights.
He was accompanied during the tour by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) managing director Johnny Andersen and Isiolo County Commissioner George Natembeya.
The Sh2.7 billion facility, according to the PS is expected to handle 350,000 passengers every year.
The airport was earmarked for commissioning early 2017. This, however, did not happen due to runway pavements being worked on as a result of poor drainage.
“A lot of investments have been put in place for the construction of the airport and it has reached a level where we feel we are ready to start operations,” the PS said.
The officials praised the state of the art terminal building, access roads, runway, administration block and aircraft parking apron.
They said the work had been done according to international standards.
Four potential airlines expected to launch flights to the airport include Jambojet, Kenya Airways, Fly 540 and Air Kenya.
Mainga said the airport will start operations in two weeks but later on, a ceremony where President Uhuru Kenyatta will officially launch it will be held.
Already, Fly 540 has booked a ticket office at the facility.
The airport, which is one of the key Vision 2030 developments, is located on a 260-hectare land with a 4,500 square metre passenger terminal building.
It is expected to open Isiolo and the neighbouring pastoralist regions to development.
Andersen said seven counties including Isiolo, Marsabit and Meru among others will reap big from the facility by exporting miraa, animal products and tourism.