Airkenya Express · Wilson Airport, Nairobi
The original safari airline.
Seamless connection across East Africa.
30+ years flying
Serving the safari circuit since the mid-1970s
Private Wilson terminal
Its own lounge, Wi-Fi and baggage check-in
Two countries
Kenya and Tanzania on one network
Who we are
Seamless connection across East Africa.
With more than 30 years of flying behind it and over 130 employees, AirKenya is a pioneer of the East African safari circuit — connecting travellers to the region’s most iconic wilderness from a private terminal at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
Where we fly
Five connections that define the circuit
From the plains of the Maasai Mara to the Serengeti, AirKenya links the region’s most iconic wilderness by air.
Kenya · MRE
Maasai Mara
Kenya’s premier safari destination, home to the Big Five and the Great Migration.
Kenya · ASV
Amboseli
Great herds of elephant beneath the snows of Kilimanjaro.
Kenya · UAS
Northern Kenya
Samburu and Meru — fewer visitors and rare wildlife.
Tanzania · ARK
Arusha
The gateway to northern Tanzania and its parks.
Tanzania · SEU
Mara — Serengeti
The ultimate cross-border connection, flying the whole Serengeti.
- Plotted
- 5 connections
- Countries
- 2
- Shortest published flight
- 35 minutes
Flight times are the ones AirKenya publishes: Maasai Mara 45 minutes, Amboseli 35 minutes, Northern Kenya 55 minutes, Arusha 55 minutes. The airline publishes no route distances, so none are shown — and a place missing from this plate is one the airline names without a position we can stand behind.
The plate plots 5 scheduled connections from Wilson Airport (WIL) in Nairobi to Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Northern Kenya, Arusha and Mara — Serengeti, across 2 countries. Positions are the airstrips’ own coordinates; the arcs are drawn between them.
How we fly
Three ways to travel with us
Whether you take a seat on a scheduled service or charter the whole aircraft, the flying is the same: light aircraft, skilled crews and airstrips deep inside the reserves.
Scheduled services
Daily flights from Wilson Airport to the region’s safari airstrips.
Chartered flights
The whole aircraft, on your schedule, to wherever you need to be.
Safari packages
Flights, camps and transfers arranged as a single journey.
The fleet
Aircraft chosen for the bush
A deliberately small family of types, each with the short-field performance that safari flying demands — from the eleven-seat Grand Caravan to the pressurised Dash 7.
Grand Caravan
11 seats
Twin Otter
18 seats
Dash 7
49 seats
Dash 8
37 seats
Why fly AirKenya
01
The original safari airline
AirKenya flew into the Maasai Mara before anyone else did, and was the first carrier to put Kenyan women in the cockpit. That head start is now decades of airstrip knowledge.
02
Built for the bush
The fleet is deliberately made up of classic types with the short-field performance bush flying demands. The aircraft are maintained and upgraded to international standards, so reliability is not traded for capability.
03
One region, one network
Shared with RegionalAir in Tanzania and AeroLink in Uganda, the fleet links Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — and the Mara to the Serengeti and to Bwindi — under a single airline group.
- Years of flying
- 30+
- Employees
- 130+
- Aircraft types
- 4
- Countries served
- 2
Before you fly
Everything you need for the day of travel
Included with every ticket
15kg checked · 5kg cabin
Every seat includes 15kg of checked baggage and 5kg of hand luggage, in soft-sided bags. Anything above that travels as excess, priced per kilo.
- Checked bags no larger than 24in (60cm) high × 18in (45cm) long × 13in (33cm) wide
- Excess charged at USD 5 per kilo, domestic and international
Depart from Wilson, not JKIA
Scheduled services leave from the airline’s own terminal at Wilson Airport, closer to the city than Jomo Kenyatta International.
Pack soft and light
Holds are smaller than an airliner’s. Bring soft-sided bags and keep within the 15kg checked allowance.
Keep your papers to hand
Carry photo ID and, where your itinerary crosses a border, the eTA or e-visa that covers it.
Children travel on your documents
Infants and children fly on the accompanying adult’s documents. Bring proof of the relationship if asked.
Frequently asked questions about AirKenya
Where do AirKenya flights depart from in Nairobi?
Scheduled AirKenya services leave from the airline’s private passenger terminal at Wilson Airport, Nairobi — not from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The terminal has its own lounge, free Wi-Fi and baggage check-in.
What is the baggage allowance?
The maximum checked luggage is 15kg (33lb) in soft-sided bags, and hand luggage is limited to 5kg (11lb), which forms part of that 15kg allowance rather than being additional to it.
What happens if I have more than 15kg?
On scheduled flights you can book and pay in advance for an additional freight seat carrying up to 75kg (165lb), subject to the baggage policy. Excess baggage is charged at USD 5 per kilo. A complimentary luggage storage facility is offered to passengers travelling on a return flight who would rather leave excess baggage behind.
What documents do I need to travel?
All travellers to Kenya need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, applied for at least three days before departure. Travellers who need a visa for Tanzania or Uganda should obtain an e-visa in advance. An East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in a single document.
Can I book a whole aircraft?
Yes. AirKenya operates charter flights alongside its scheduled services, which take the same aircraft away from the fixed timetable and build the departure around your itinerary.
Can I travel with a wheelchair or a pushchair?
Yes. Wheelchairs, canes, walkers and crutches are carried free of charge for passengers with a disability and are not counted within the baggage allowance, provided they are collapsible. Baby car seats and foldable prams or strollers are also accepted.
Seamless connection across East Africa.
Ready to plan your safari?
Tell reservations where you would like to go and when. They will plan the flying around your itinerary.