4/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“While the facilities are compact and can feel a bit crowded during the peak morning safari rush, the efficiency is unmatched.”
100 Stories of Kenya5★ on Google
Airports / Kenya / WIL
Medium airport · WIL
Nairobi Wilson Airport.
Nairobi, Kenya · 5,536 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.4/5
Google rating
2,242 ratings
0
Operators based
5,536
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Nairobi, KenyaELEV 5,536 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.4
Google rating
2,242
Google reviews
ratings on Google
5,536
Field elevation
feet above sea level
4
Nearest alternate
nm to HKRE
Field standing
#5 / 15
Kenya airports by Google rating
4.4★ across 2242 Google ratings , ranked against 15 rated Kenya fields.
4 nm
To the nearest alternate
Moi Air Base (HKRE), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Nairobi Wilson Airport (HKNW / WIL) is a mid-sized airport serving Nairobi, Kenya. Field elevation is 5,536 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list WIL as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Moi Air Base (HKRE, 4 nm), Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO, 7 nm), and Nakuru Lanet Airport (NUU, 73 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 5,052-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to super-midsize jets.
Trip costs from WIL are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as WLN. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from WIL to plan your flight.
Run an FBO at HKNW? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“This layout means security checks are usually incredibly fast, lines are practically non-existent, and the check-in process feels highly personalized.”
100 Stories of Kenya5★ on Google
3/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“The VIP lounge is on another level,great customer service and also cleanliness is on another level.”
Juliet Nyandiko5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Nairobi Wilson Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
HKNW
IATA
WIL
FAA / Local
HKNW
Elevation
5,536 ft
Coordinates
1.3217° S · 36.8148° 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
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Kenya fields
state range 20–6,941 ft
At 5,536 ft, WIL sits higher than 71% 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
2 runways
longest 5,052 ft
- 14/325,052 ft × 76 ftAsphaltUnlit
- 07/254,798 ft × 72 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 5,052 ft
WIL's 5,052 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize jets.
- 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 5,536 ft this field's density altitude can extend the runway a jet actually needs on warm days. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 4nmHKREMoi Air BaseNairobi
- 7nmNBOJomo Kenyatta International AirportNairobi
- 73nmNUUNakuru Lanet AirportNakuru
- 77nmNYKNanyuki Civil AirportGathiuru
- 82nmHKNYLaikipia Air BaseNanyuki
- 84nmASVAmboseli AirportOl Tukai
Location
Open the full mapHKNW · Nairobi Wilson Airport · Nairobi, Kenya
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from WIL on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,254 nm | 14h 57m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,396 nm | 15h 16m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 6,576 nm | 15h 42m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 6,874 nm | 16h 23m |
| Miami (MIA) | 6,895 nm | 16h 26m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 6,966 nm | 16h 36m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,045 nm | 16h 47m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 7,200 nm | 17h 9m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use WIL?
- Nairobi Wilson Airport's longest paved runway is 5,052 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize jets. 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 WIL?
- Nairobi Wilson Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 5,052 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to WIL?
- The closest alternate is Moi Air Base (HKRE), about 4 nm away, followed by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) at 7 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from WIL to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 14h 57m (6,254 nm), New York about 15h 16m (6,396 nm), Washington DC about 15h 42m (6,576 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.