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NBOHKJK

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Nairobi, KE

Airportist Score

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

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NBOHKJKNormal

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Nairobi, Kenya · Africa

Kenya’s SkyTeam hub is an 18 km Expressway hop with dense lounges, but a five-part T1 horseshoe, a separate T2 and a single runway keep it a 6.7 rather than a slam-dunk.

Airportist Score

6.7/ 10

Solid

Ease of use6.6
Comfort & amenities6.8
Food & retail6.4
Ground access7.6
Reliability5.8
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare NBO with another airport

Arrive

Security

Fastest

Cheapest

Lounges

On time

NBOGuide

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Nearby airports

All airports Official site

NBOHKJKNormal

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Nairobi, Kenya · Africa

Kenya’s SkyTeam hub is an 18 km Expressway hop with dense lounges, but a five-part T1 horseshoe, a separate T2 and a single runway keep it a 6.7 rather than a slam-dunk.

Airportist Score

6.7/ 10

Solid

Ease of use6.6
Comfort & amenities6.8
Food & retail6.4
Ground access7.6
Reliability5.8
Lounges7.4

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare NBO with another airport

Arrive
2 h
before international flights
Typical security
25 min
editorial average, not live
Best way to city
20-40 min
Uber / Bolt
Lounges
5
3 rated worth it
Terminals
2
(T1 concourses 1A–1E + separate T2)
Passengers / year
8.6 million (2024)

7 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

WILWilson Airport
Nairobi
12 km
NYENyeri Airport
Nyeri
107 km
NUUNakuru Airport
Nakuru
142 km

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Worth it

Kenya Airways Pride Lounge

Terminal 1AAirside T1A after security / immigration

Kenya Airways’ flagship 1A room (opened January 2015 with Simba). Premier World and SkyTeam Platinum/Gold — not Priority Pass. Live cooking from 1 October; napping area and runway views. Pay-pass T&Cs print 05:00–00:01.

Access: Kenya Airways Premier World / Business · SkyTeam Elite Plus · Pay-per-use USD 40 (0–3 h) / 75 / 110 / 140

Hours: 05:00–00:01 (KQ pay-pass T&Cs); Asante.kenya-airways leftover-prints 24/7

Amenities: Live cooking / buffet · Showers (operator listing) · Napping area / quiet Savannah seating · Wi-Fi / business alcove

Best for: KQ Premier World departing 1A · SkyTeam Gold / Platinum on a SkyTeam flight · Long T1A connections

Full access guide

Depends

Kenya Airways Simba Lounge

Terminal 1AAirside T1A — the smaller KQ room next to Pride

Depends

Terminal 1BAirside opposite Gate 11

Worth it

Plaza Premium Lounge

Terminal 1CAirside after security and passport control, Level 2 near Gate 4

Worth it

Turkish Airlines Star Alliance Lounge

Terminal 1EAirside departures, corridor from Gate 13 to Gate 4

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Pride Lounge (T1A, worth-it): KQ Premier World and SkyTeam Platinum/Gold. Opened January 2015 with Simba. Live cooking, napping area. Not Priority Pass.
Simba Lounge (T1A, depends): smaller KQ twin, Manyatta room. Same access as Pride.
Asante Lounge (T1C, 24 hours on the KQ page, showers): KQ / SkyTeam status; pay-pass USD 40–140. Not PP.

The smaller January 2015 KQ twin of Pride in T1A, with the Manyatta / melting-pot room. Same airline/status rules as Pride — not Priority Pass. VVIP room is an extra USD charge on the KQ page. Use Pride first unless this room is quieter.

Access: Kenya Airways Premier World / Business · SkyTeam Elite Plus · Pay-per-use USD 40 (0–3 h) / 75 / 110 / 140

Hours: 05:00–00:01 (KQ pay-pass T&Cs)

Amenities: Buffet / bar · Manyatta seating / VVIP room (extra) · Wi-Fi

Best for: KQ Premier World when Pride is full · A quieter 1A wait

Full access guide

Swissport Aspire room airside T1B opposite Gate 11. Priority Pass 00:00–23:59, max stay 3 hours, under-2 free, smart casual. Smaller and snack-led versus Plaza Premium or Turkish. Wikipedia leftover T1C is leftover-stale — sit the live PP page (T1B).

Access: Priority Pass · Pay-per-use / eligible cards

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily (Priority Pass); max stay 3 hours; under-2 free; smart casual

Amenities: Drinks / snacks · Wi-Fi / flight screens · PRM access

Best for: Priority Pass holders gated at 1B

Full access guide

Independent T1C card lounge, Level 2 near Gate 4 after security and immigration. Priority Pass lists 00:00–23:59, max stay 2 hours, children under 2 free. The airport index leftover-prints Terminal 1D — sit the dedicated lounge page (T1C). Do not confuse it with Pride in 1A.

Access: Priority Pass · Pay-per-use / eligible cards

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily (Priority Pass); max stay 2 hours; under-2 free

Amenities: Complimentary standard alcohol (Priority Pass) · Wi-Fi / air conditioning · PRM access

Best for: Priority Pass holders on a T1C international wait · Red-eyes (true 24-hour listing)

Full access guide

T1E airside after security, along the Gate 13–Gate 4 corridor. Priority Pass lists 24 hours, max stay 3 hours, international only, showers. Wikipedia leftover T1D is leftover-stale — sit the live PP page (T1E).

Access: Priority Pass · Star Alliance Gold

Hours: 00:00–23:59 daily (Priority Pass); max stay 3 hours; under-2 free; international flights only

Amenities: Showers (Priority Pass facility list) · Prayer room / children’s play corner · Complimentary standard alcohol · Wi-Fi / flight screens

Best for: Priority Pass showers on a T1 international wait · Star Alliance Gold on a Star-operated flight

Full access guide

Plaza Premium (T1C Level 2 Gate 4, worth-it): Priority Pass 00:00–23:59, max 2 hours, under-2 free.

Aspire Nairobi (T1B Gate 11, depends): Priority Pass, max 3 hours.

Turkish Airlines Star Alliance (T1E, worth-it): Priority Pass, showers, max 3 hours, international only.

Mount Kenya and Mara (T2 airside Level 1): Priority Pass, T2 domestic only — a T1 boarding pass cannot walk there airside.

Msafiri (T1D): KQ domestic pay-pass USD 25 / 0–3 hours.

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