Athi Smart International Airport &  JetBlack Airlines Corporation

Athi Smart International Airport (ASIA) @ Athi Smart city— at a Glance

Summary

Airport type: Private
Owner: jetBlack Group
Operator : Kenya Airports Authority
Serves : East Africa, Africa Europe and Asia
Location : Athi River Machakos County Kenya. Opened 30 June 2024
Proposed Hub for : JetBlack Prime Air Serve
Proposed home : jetBlack Airlines Corporation
Time zone : Kenyan Standard Time (GMT+02:00)
Elevation : AMSL
Latitude:  1°27′22″ S
Longitude: 36°58′41″ E
Elevation above sea level: 1505 m = 4937 ft. Coordinates
Website: www.jetblackgroup.co.ke

Subject to regulatory and Kenya Government approval, Athi International Airport-ASIA will be home  JetBlack Airlines Corporation and jetBlack Prime Air Serve Corporation

“The runway will be a category two runway that conforms to international standards,” said The Chairman of Athi Smart City Mr. Keshoney. Furthermore, the technology of the proposed facility must meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) category II specifications. Moreover, the technology will also enable operations in bad weather thus avoiding diversion of aircraft.

Athi International Airport is a proposed international airport in Athi River, Machakos Kenya that Plans to open by 30th June 2024.It is the main part of Athi Smart City to be located South of the planned residential, commercial and logistics complex. When fully completed (expected 2026), the airport will contain transport modes, logistics and value- added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single Special free economic zone will cover an area of 400 hectares (1200 acres). The airport has a projected annual capacity of 2 million tones (2,000,000 long tons; 3,000,000 short tons) of freight and between 2 million and 4 million passengers.

Cargo Handling at Athi International Airport

The proposed Athi International Airport (ASIA) subject to approval by Kenya regulators is positioning itself as a regional cargo hub. The airport is planned to accommodate large-size haul planes such as Boeing B767 or Airbus 310.

Construction

The (4,800 ft × 75 ft) runway shall be completed in 600 days and subsequently undergoes tests over the following six to eight months in order to fulfil its CAT III-C requirements.

Construction of the airport’s cargo terminal, the Athi Cargo Gateway, which shall cost around US$30 million, should be 50% complete by the end of 2023. During the first phase of the project, the airport is planned to handle around 200,000 t (200,000 long tons; 220,000 short tons) of cargo per year, with the possibility of increasing to 800,000 t (790,000 long tons; 880,000 short tons)

The passenger terminal at this phase is designed to have a capacity of 5 million passengers per year. It is planned to be one of the largest airport in Kenya in terms of freight handled, moving up to 2 million tones (2,000,000 long tons; 3,000,000 short tons) per year in 2030

The total cost of the airport has been estimated by the ASC to be $400 million

Athi International Airport opens on 27 June 2023 with one runway and only cargo flights. The first flight into the airport should occur by 30 June 2022. This flight will serve as a test for various functions such as air traffic control, movement of aircraft on the ground, and security. By February 2022, the airport should be certified to handle passenger aircraft with up to 60 passengers. The first passenger aircraft should touch down by end of 2023. The airport shall officially open for passenger flights by August 2023. At the time of its opening, a minimum cargo service airlines should serve Athi International Airport

Facilities

The proposed airport will include: Three passenger terminals, including two luxury facilities; one dedicated to jetBlack Airlines Corporation and jetBlack Prime Air Services the second to other carriers, and the third dedicated to low-cost carriers, Multiple concourses, Executive and royal jet centres, Hotels and shopping malls ,Support and maintenance facilities: the region’s only hub for A-, B-, and C-checks on all aircraft up to A380 specifications

The proposed Athi  International Airport (ASIA) will be linked to the existing Jomo Kenyatta International

Airport by a proposed high-speed express rail system, and served by the Nairobi Metro and a dedicated Athi Smart City light railway. Kenya expects an exponential rise in passenger traffic over its skies, with the presumption that it will become the primary air hub for transiting travelers from East & Central Africa to the Asia–Pacific Region, South Asia, Greater Middle East, Europe, and Australia (for the Kangaroo route: Australia to Britain and back). Several large warehouses and hangars line the westernmost part of the airport. These interlinked hangars will stretch from end-to-end of the westernmost runway. Each of these is capable of housing A380 aircraft. The airport will complement Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, some 25 km (15 mi) away. It is surrounded by a logistics hub, a luxurious golf resort, a trade and exhibition facility with 3 million square meters of exhibition space, a commercial district, and a residential and hotel area. Athi International Airport will have a total of 10,000 parking slots for automobile vehicles for its employees, Athi Smart City residents, tourists, and other users.

JetBlack Airlines Corporation is poised to be a passenger carrier company. The Company shall provide air transportation services across the Africa, the Caribbean and Asia and Europe. Its segments shall also include Domestic, and East & Central Africa. It shall operate various kinds of aircrafts, including Airbus and Embraer E190. It shall also strive to provide premium transcontinental product called Pristine. JetBlack Airlines Corporation is finalizing 100% take-over of an existing Airline based in Entebbe Uganda with approximately 100 staff members and six Aircrafts.

Once the branding is complete, the Company shall acquire additional aircrafts that shall provide Fly-Fi in-flight Internet service across its fleet. It shall work hard to provide its customers a choice to purchase tickets from three branded fares, which include Black, Black Plus and Black Flex. Each of these fares shall include different offerings, such as free checked bags, reduced change fees and additional True Black points. As at its launch, our aircrafts in a single cabin layout proposes to have 200 seats and those with Pristine premium service shall have a seating capacity of 159 seats.

Air transport has is a significant mode of transport in Kenya and is set to remain so in the country as long as tourism thrives. Air transport is the second most important transport services in Kenya in terms of its share in the total value of output from the transport sector. The aviation industry in Kenya is highly competitive and heavily dominated by foreign investors. It comprises of the national airline (Kenya Airways), over fifteen foreign commercial airlines with regional offices in the country, twenty‐seven other foreign airlines which operate in the country but without regional offices, and thirteen other local private airlines.

The leading international airlines including British Airways, Air France, KLM, Swissair, Alitalia and South African Airways fly in and out of Kenya. This is an indication that Kenya imports a substantial amount of air travel services. Some of the firms offering charter services in Kenya are owned by locals, often in partnership with foreign investors. The Aviation Sector in East Africa is dominated by passenger and cargo as the prime movers of the modern sector of the economy, while the Road provides transport needs of the traditional sector nationally and regionally.

All the countries in the Great Lakes Region and beyond depend on Airlines to meet their transport needs. Today airlines have to restructure to take into account the new developments within the industry. JetBlack Airlines Corporation is coming in as a new player in the Executive regional airline camp.

JetBlack Airlines Corp shall work to bring together people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives and expertise and is committed to creating a supportive atmosphere where everyone will play an equally important role in its operations.

JetBlack Airlines Corporation is a privately‐owned Airline that aspires to be Africa’s leading Aviation Company. It’s a subsidiary company of JetBlack Group.