The Kenya Airports Authority, the umbrella body charged with the responsibility of providing and managing a coordinated system of airports in Kenya announced a few hours ago that the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) had won the STAT Times International Award for Excellence in Air cargo.

This was the second year the JKIA was winning this award offered under the highly acclaimed category of African Airport of the year.

The STAT Times Awards are administered by the STAT Trade Times magazine published monthly to provide in-depth coverage for the aviation, tourism, shipping and transport industries worldwide. The magazine has been serving the transport and tourism industry since 1986.

JKIA first won the award in 2011 and later on emerged a runner-up in 2013. The winners of the awards are determined based on the most votes generated within the industry. The worldwide readers of STAT Times indicate their choice through an online poll, spanning a month and the top 2 with the maximum number of votes polled are chosen as ‘winner’ and ‘highly acclaimed’ in each category respectively.

“This award validates our ongoing efforts to improving facilities at JKIA Cargo area and our excellence in customer service. It is evident to me that our staff at JKIA have truly embraced our vision of providing globally competitive airport facilities and services. I would like to congratulate all the stakeholders of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for their collective effort in making this possible. I would also like to commend the Government of Kenya and our parent Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for their continued efforts and support in developing JKIA into a major cargo hub in Africa,” said Mr. Yatich Kangugo, the acting Managing Director for the Kenya Airports Authority when he received the award from Mr. William Simba, the Commercial Manager, Cargo.

The award ceremony which took place at the Barnyard Theatre in Rivonia, South Africa in late February this year, was graced by top air cargo executives from around the world.

For the past 10 years, JKIA has witnessed a significant growth in air cargo traffic to and from Europe, Asia, America, and most recently, China and Australia.

With the entry of several modern transit sheds including Swissport, Signon and Transglobal, the airport is now able to handle over 1 million tons of cargo annually. The Transglobal transit shed boasts an electric transfer vehicle which is the only one of its kind in Africa.  This has made JKIA to be an emerging force and destination in the air cargo industry.