Kenya Flights Guide: Getting to Nairobi and Internal Flights

Kenya’s aviation network is well-developed for its size — Nairobi is a major African hub with connections to over 50 international destinations, and a web of internal charter flights links the capital to every major national park and coastal town in under 2 hours.

Flying to Nairobi

Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA/NBO) is the main gateway. Located 18km southeast of the Nairobi city centre.

Key International Airlines

Airline	Hubs served	Notes
Kenya Airways	London (LHR), Amsterdam, Paris, Dubai, Guangzhou, New York (JFK, seasonal)	Kenya’s flag carrier, generally reliable
British Airways	London Heathrow	Daily service; often competitive with Kenya Airways
Emirates	Dubai	Via Dubai, often cheapest option from many European and Asian cities
Qatar Airways	Doha	Often cheapest from UK and Europe when booking 4+ months ahead
KLM	Amsterdam	Good for northern Europe connections
Ethiopian Airlines	Addis Ababa	Best connections from the US, Canada, and south/west Africa
Turkish Airlines	Istanbul	Good connections from Eastern Europe
Fly Dubai	Dubai	Budget option via Dubai from some European cities
RwandAir	Kigali	East Africa regional connections

Route Pricing (Approximate, Return)

• London → Nairobi: GBP 500–900 (shoulder), GBP 800–1,400 (July–September peak)
• Amsterdam → Nairobi: EUR 550–900
• Dubai → Nairobi: USD 350–600
• Addis Ababa → Nairobi: USD 200–400
• New York → Nairobi: USD 900–1,400 (via London or Addis Ababa)

Prices fluctuate significantly. These are approximate ranges as of 2026.

Best Time to Book

For peak season (July–September): Book 4–6 months ahead. Midsummer flights on BA and KQ sell out early.

For low season (April–May): 6–8 weeks ahead is usually adequate.

General rule: Prices drop significantly on Tuesday and Wednesday departures vs. weekend departures.

Mombasa Moi International Airport (MBA)

Mombasa is Kenya’s second international gateway. It receives:

• Direct flights from Nairobi (Kenya Airways, Jambojet, multiple daily, approximately 1 hour, from approximately USD 60)
• Some European charter flights (UK, Germany, Italy) — seasonal, mainly October–March
• Limited regular international service beyond Nairobi connections

Use for: Arriving directly on the coast without transiting Nairobi. Practical if your itinerary starts with Diani Beach or Mombasa.

Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL)

Nairobi Wilson Airport is a separate smaller airfield 6km southwest of JKIA. It handles:

• All Safarilink and AirKenya scheduled domestic flights
• Charter flights to all national park airstrips
• Medevac flights (AMREF Flying Doctors is based here)

Key facts:

• 30-minute taxi from JKIA (in normal traffic, approximately KES 1,500–2,500)
• Allow 60–90 minutes between an JKIA arrival and a Wilson departure (immigration + taxi + check-in)
• Check-in is simple — there is minimal queue for domestic flights; arrive 45 minutes before departure
• 15kg luggage limit on most small aircraft routes. Soft-sided bags only — hard suitcases are refused.

Internal Flights

The internal flight network transforms travel between Kenya’s spread-out destinations from endurance to efficiency:

Route	Airline	Approx Time	Approx Price
Wilson → Masai Mara	Safarilink, AirKenya	45 min	USD 130–180 one way
Wilson → Amboseli	Safarilink	45 min	USD 120–160
Wilson → Samburu	Safarilink, AirKenya	1 hr	USD 150–200
Wilson → Malindi	Safarilink, AirKenya	1 hr	USD 90–130
Wilson → Lamu	Safarilink	1.5 hr	USD 100–140
Mombasa → Malindi	Safarilink	35 min	USD 70–100
Masai Mara → Amboseli	Charter or via Wilson	45 min + transfer	USD 200–300
Wilson → Nanyuki (Mount Kenya)	Safarilink	40 min	USD 100–130

Book: safarilink.co.ke or airkenya.com. Book in advance for peak season (July–September) — popular routes sell out.

Charter flights: For groups of 4–8, private charters from Tropic Air Kenya or any number of small operators can be cheaper per person than scheduled services, plus you choose the departure time. Get quotes for your specific route.

The Wilson-to-Mara Drive Alternative

Driving from Nairobi to the Masai Mara (270km, 5–6 hours) is significantly cheaper than flying but consumes most of a day. For a 7-day trip, flying saves 1–2 days of driving. For a 14-day trip with flexibility, driving with stops can work. Most visitors opt to fly.

Airport Transfers in Nairobi

JKIA to the city: Approximate distances and costs by taxi/Uber:

• JKIA to Westlands: approximately KES 1,500–2,500, 30–45 minutes
• JKIA to Karen: approximately KES 2,000–3,000, 45–60 minutes
• JKIA to Wilson Airport: approximately KES 1,000–1,500, 20–30 minutes

Pre-booking transfers: Most hotels offer airport pickups (typically USD 25–50). Pre-booked is more reliable at arrivals — you don’t want to negotiate a taxi at midnight.

Bolt/Uber at JKIA: Both apps work at JKIA arrivals. The rideshare pickup zone is a short walk from the terminal.