3/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Large airport with water tight security and courteous airport staff personnel and fast services.”
Dr. Sunday Manu4★ on Google
Airports / Kenya / NBO
Large airport · NBO
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Nairobi, Kenya · 5,330 ft elevation. 18 charter operators based here.
4.2/5
Google rating
24,226 ratings
18
Operators based
5,330
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Nairobi, KenyaELEV 5,330 FTLarge airportScheduled service
4.2
Google rating
24,226
Google reviews
ratings on Google
18
Based operators
charter operators on the field
5,330
Field elevation
feet above sea level
5
Nearest alternate
nm to HKRE
Field standing
18 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 99% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
5 nm
To the nearest alternate
Moi Air Base (HKRE), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (HKJK / NBO) is a large commercial airport serving Nairobi, Kenya. The field lies at an elevation of 5,330 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
Charter departments call it home: 748 Air Services (K), Ltd., Air Kenya Express Ltd, and ALS limited base aircraft at NBO, 18 in all. Useful alternates include Moi Air Base (HKRE, 5 nm), Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL, 7 nm), and Nanyuki Civil Airport (NYK, 76 nm). NBO offers a single 13,507-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of NBO vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Jkia Airport and Embakasi Airport. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from NBO, or browse verified operators serving the area.
Run an FBO at HKJK? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Facilities are optionally standard with wifi service in good condition.”
Dr. Sunday Manu4★ on Google
3/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Large airport with water tight security and courteous airport staff personnel and fast services.”
Dr. Sunday Manu4★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
HKJK
IATA
NBO
FAA / Local
HKJK
Elevation
5,330 ft
Coordinates
1.3189° S · 36.9282° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Kenya fields
state range 20–6,941 ft
At 5,330 ft, NBO sits higher than 59% of the 17 Kenya fields on the register, a high-elevation field where density altitude can trim aircraft performance on warm days.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 13,507 ft
- 06/2413,507 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 13,507 ft
NBO's 13,507 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation, and at 5,330 ft this field's density altitude can extend the runway a jet actually needs on warm days. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators18
- SafarilinkNairobi · Part 1354.4(348)8 aircraft · HKJK
- Tropic AirNairobi · Part 1354.9(64)6 aircraft · HKJK
- Phoenix AviationNairobi · Part 1354.8(44)5 aircraft · HKJK
- Air Kenya Express LtdNairobi · Part 1354.0(2)5 aircraft · HKJK
- ALS limitedNairobi · Part 1355 aircraft · HKJK
- Z.Boskovic Air Charters LtdNairobi · Part 1354.6(71)4 aircraft · HKJK
- Yellow Wings Air ServicesNairobi · Part 1354.4(122)3 aircraft · HKJK
- AMREF Flying DoctorsNairobi · Part 1354.2(25)3 aircraft · HKJK
- East African Air CharterNairobi · Part 1355.0(1)2 aircraft · HKJK
- Skyward AirlinesNairobi · Part 1354.2(839)1 aircraft · HKJK
- 748 Air Services (K), Ltd.Nairobi · Part 1353.9(14)1 aircraft · HKJK
- Fanjet Express, Ltd.Nairobi · Part 1355.0(3)1 aircraft · HKJK
- Scenic Air SafarisNairobi · Part 1355.0(1)1 aircraft · HKJK
- Astral AviationNairobi · Part 1354.7(39)HKJK
- Bluebird Aviation, Ltd.Nairobi · Part 1354.7(37)HKJK
- Kasas Kenya, Ltd.Nairobi · Part 1354.4(10)HKJK
- First Air CharterNairobi · Part 135HKJK
- Kidl Helicopter CompanyNairobi · Part 135HKJK
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 5nmHKREMoi Air BaseNairobi
- 7nmWILNairobi Wilson AirportNairobi
- 76nmNYKNanyuki Civil AirportGathiuru
- 77nmNUUNakuru Lanet AirportNakuru
- 81nmHKNYLaikipia Air BaseNanyuki
- 82nmASVAmboseli AirportOl Tukai
Location
Open the full mapHKJK · Jomo Kenyatta International Airport · Nairobi, Kenya
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from NBO on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,259 nm | 14h 57m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,401 nm | 15h 17m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 6,581 nm | 15h 42m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 6,880 nm | 16h 24m |
| Miami (MIA) | 6,901 nm | 16h 27m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 6,971 nm | 16h 37m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,050 nm | 16h 48m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 7,199 nm | 17h 9m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use NBO?
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport's longest paved runway is 13,507 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at NBO?
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 13,507 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at NBO?
- Yes. 18 charter operators list Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a home base, including 748 Air Services (K), Ltd., Air Kenya Express Ltd, ALS limited. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to NBO?
- The closest alternate is Moi Air Base (HKRE), about 5 nm away, followed by Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL) at 7 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from NBO to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 14h 57m (6,259 nm), New York about 15h 17m (6,401 nm), Washington DC about 15h 42m (6,581 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.