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Does Eldoret have an international airport?

Yes. Eldoret International Airport (IATA: EDL) is officially designated as an international airport, primarily due to its ability to handle international cargo and charter operations, rather than regular scheduled international passenger flights. The airport is located about 16 kilometers south of Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu County, and it handles international cargo operations as well as domestic passenger flights, playing an important role in the economy of western Kenya. Eldoret International Airport is not as busy as Nairobi or Mombasa's major airports, but it has the necessary facilities to support large aircraft and international processing requirements.

1. Overview of Eldoret International Airport

The airport was significantly upgraded and expanded in 2001 under the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to support international cargo operations and large aircraft.Key features include:

  • A 3.5-kilometer runway, one of the longest in Kenya.
  • Storage and handling of cargo.
  • A passenger terminal that has check-in counters and immigration desks.
  • Customs services, security, and airport firefighting units.

2. Passenger Services and Domestic Flights

Although the airport is international, most scheduled flights are domestic. Domestic flights are mainly operated by Jambojet, with services subject to change depending on airline schedules and market demand.Common destinations:

  • Nairobi (JKIA or Wilson Airport)
  • Mombasa
  • Kisumu (occasional or seasonal)

These connections make Eldoret easily accessible for athletes, students, business travelers, and tourists.

3. International Operations: Mostly Cargo and Charter Flights

Although it has an international designation, Eldoret hardly ever has scheduled international flights for passengers. Instead, it handles:

  • International cargo operations
  • Charter flights
  • Seasonal or special-event flights (e.g., Hajj/Umrah)

Cargo shipments often include flowers, textiles, fresh produce, and manufactured goods, so the airport is a significant logistics center of the North Rift.

4. Importance of Eldoret International Airport

The airport is vital for:

  • Promoting exports from the North Rift region.
  • Enhancing transport connectivity of a quickly expanding business city.
  • Supporting tourism and athletic travel to Rift Valley destinations such as Iten.
  • Enhancing the general aviation and logistics network in Kenya.

Conclusion

Eldoret is served by a fully operational international airport. Eldoret International Airport is the modern and a modern and strategically important facility for domestic travel, cargo operations, and regional trade. Despite having very limited or occasional international passenger charter flights, the airport primarily serves international cargo and domestic passenger traffic; it can be considered one of the pillars of connectivity and economic growth in the North Rift of Kenya.

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