Airlines operating from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport will have to adjust their flight paths beginning mid-November 2025, following the construction of the Bomas International Conference Complex (BICC). The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has notified operators that cranes rising between 75 and 85 metres above ground will be erected at the site, potentially interfering with flight navigation.
According to a letter from the Bomas of Kenya Chief Executive Officer dated October 9, 2025 (Ref: BOK/CEO/KCAA/2025-02), four cranes will be used at the construction site between mid-November 2025 and April 30, 2026. The development stems from an aeronautical study conducted in 2023, which highlighted the need for flight safety assessments in light of the planned construction.
KCAA has invited all affected stakeholders, including airline operators, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Meteorological Department, and the Ministry of Defence, to a consultative meeting on November 11, 2025, at Weston Hotel. The meeting aims to deliberate on the safety implications and agree on alternative routes to ensure uninterrupted operations at Wilson Airport.
Concerns have been raised that the new development might disrupt normal aircraft operations. Sources indicate that KCAA initially expressed reservations but was reportedly instructed to find alternative flight paths to avoid stalling one of President William Ruto’s flagship projects.
The Bomas International Conference Complex is a government-backed project designed to transform Bomas into a premier conferencing destination. The initiative was ratified by Cabinet in August 2023 and officially launched in March 2025, with Turkish firm Summa Turizm Yatirimciligi Anonim Sirketi overseeing construction.
Government officials have reaffirmed that Bomas remains state-owned, despite earlier claims suggesting otherwise. The project is part of Kenya’s strategy to boost Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism and position Nairobi as a regional hub for global events.
