Severe overnight rainfall in Nairobi disrupted several scheduled flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, forcing Kenya Airways to divert some aircraft to Moi International Airport in Mombasa as the airline works to restore normal operations.
Heavy overnight rainfall across Nairobi caused flight disruptions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), forcing Kenya Airways to divert several flights to Mombasa and delay parts of its schedule on Saturday.
In a customer update issued by its corporate communications office, the national carrier said adverse weather conditions affected both arrivals and departures, prompting operational adjustments that extended into Saturday’s flight schedule.
The airline confirmed that some aircraft were diverted to Moi International Airport in Mombasa as crews responded to the weather disruptions affecting the capital’s main aviation hub.
“The heavy overnight downpour in parts of Nairobi and its environs caused disruption to some of our scheduled flights,” Kenya Airways said in a statement. “Due to the adverse weather conditions, some of our flights were also diverted to Mombasa.”
Knock-On Effects on Saturday Flights
The airline said the disruptions had a ripple effect on Saturday’s flight operations, warning passengers departing from JKIA that schedules could change as the airline worked to stabilise its network.
Weather-related disruptions often cause cascading delays across airline schedules because aircraft and crew rotations are closely linked across multiple routes.
“Our teams are working hard to get everything back to normal as soon as possible,” the airline said, adding that normal operations were expected to resume later in the evening.
Operational Challenges for Airlines
Heavy rainfall can disrupt aviation operations in several ways, including reduced runway visibility, flooding risks, and safety restrictions that limit aircraft movement during storms.
For airlines operating hub-and-spoke networks such as Kenya Airways, disruptions at the main hub can quickly affect regional and international connections. JKIA serves as the airline’s primary hub for routes across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Flight diversions to coastal airports such as Mombasa are a common contingency during severe weather events in Nairobi because the region often experiences different weather patterns.
Impact on Travellers and Connectivity
Travel disruptions at JKIA can affect passengers connecting through Nairobi to other destinations, including regional business routes linking Kenya with East and Central Africa.
JKIA is one of the busiest aviation hubs in East Africa, handling millions of passengers annually and serving as a critical gateway for tourism, trade and cargo logistics.
Weather-related disruptions can also affect cargo movements, particularly time-sensitive shipments transported through Kenya Airways’ air freight network.
Passenger Advisory
Kenya Airways urged customers scheduled to travel from JKIA on Saturday to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.
Passengers were advised to check updates through the airline’s website and ensure their contact details are updated through the “Manage Booking” option in order to receive direct notifications about schedule changes.
Customers requiring assistance can contact the airline’s customer support team through its call centre, WhatsApp support line or the official support account on X.
The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience, noting that the disruption was caused by adverse weather conditions beyond its control.
