Four Directors of the Kenya Airports Authority led by their Chairman, Eng. Erastus K. Mwongera visited Germany between Sunday 24th and Tuesday 26th June, 2007. The Directors were received by Ambassador H. Mutuma Kathurima.

The purpose of their trip was to learn from the experiences of Munich Airport that is a modern Airport and well managed. The members of the delegation were as follows: Eng. Erastus Mwongera, Dr. George Muhoho, Dr. Gerrishon K. Ikiara and Eng. Ali Asidi. They were accompanied by Eng. Stephen Gichuki the General Manager, Engineering Services and Mr. John Tito the Company Secretary.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was built to cater for a maximum of 2.5 million passengers a year. In 2006, the airport handled 4.4 million passengers. The Kenya Airports Authority is currently undertaking extensions to expand and improve the airport’s facilities to enable it to accommodate the increasing number of passengers who are projected to grow to over 9 million by the year 2024. The airport is a hub for more than twenty regional and international airlines, which include the following; Kenya Airways, KLM, Emirates, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Egypt Air, Ethiopian, Sabena, Saudia, Air India, South African Airways and Swiss Airlines.

The KAA has plans to expand other airports in the country which include, Kisumu, Malindi and Isiolo.

In the company of the Ambassador, the Directors made an extensive tour of Munich Airport and also conferred with Dr. Michael Kerkloh the President and Chief Executive Officer, Munich Airport Authority.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Dr. Gerrishon Ikiara also held separate meetings with senior officials who included Mr. Juergen Weithas the Deputy Head of the Bavaria State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology. This is Dr. Ikiara’s counterpart Ministry.

The officials explained to the P.S., aspects regarding the management of roads, railways, ports and waterways in the State of Bavaria. The Permanent Secretary stated that his Ministry was keen to learn about the operation of these services in Germany, in order to identify which ones can be adopted to address the challenges faced in the transport sector in Kenya.

Dr, Muhoho, the CEO, Kenya Airports Authority and the Ambassador attended the meeting.