By Robert Mutasi 
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has approved a fresh batch of air service licenses, opening up new international and domestic routes, with Eldoret International Airport among the biggest beneficiaries after securing a new link to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
The approvals were published in a gazette notice dated August 7, 2026, and were made under the Civil Aviation Act and the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations 2025. The notice confirms a major expansion of Kenya’s air connectivity to the Middle East, East Africa and beyond.
According to the gazette, Eldoret is set to gain a new international connection linking it to Jeddah through Nairobi. The route is expected to boost travel for business, religious pilgrimage and cargo, particularly for residents of the North Rift region who frequently travel to Saudi Arabia.
The new licenses cover both scheduled and non-scheduled services for passenger, cargo and mail transport. Some operators have been granted international non-scheduled licenses to operate between Kenya, Tanzania and Saudi Arabia, with validity periods ranging from one to three years.
“The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has approved a fresh batch of air service licenses, opening new international and domestic services for several operators, with Eldoret gaining a new connection to Saudi Arabia via Nairobi,” the gazette notice states.
In addition to international routes, KCAA has also cleared several domestic scheduled routes. These include services connecting Nairobi to Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Lodwar, Malindi, Lamu and Garissa, a move expected to improve internal connectivity and support tourism and trade.
The approvals also cover aerial work services, which include crop spraying, wildlife surveys, aerial photography, firefighting support and game counting across East Africa and beyond. Flying instruction services within Kenya were also approved, meaning more pilot training will take place using aircraft based at airports including Wilson Airport in Nairobi and Malindi Airport.
Operators will use different aircraft types stationed at key hubs such as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Wilson Airport and other regional airstrips.
However, not all applications were successful. KCAA revealed that some services, including certain scheduled routes to African capitals, were declined after airlines failed to meet the selection criteria covering home-state credentials, operational safety and economic viability.
The Authority reminded foreign air companies seeking to operate international services into Kenya that they must first obtain an Air Service License and a Foreign Air Operator Certificate from KCAA.
The latest approvals form part of the regular licensing process that determines which operators can offer scheduled and non-scheduled services within and beyond Kenya’s borders, and are expected to enhance Kenya’s position as a regional aviation hub.