<p>Does anyone have someone in Nairobi so I could find out the actual likelihood that an international flight on August 22 will be able to land? The news reports seem to be very devoid of any firm time yet since the fire was all very recent.</p>
<p>The following are some news reports:</p>
<p>“If the runway can operate and the control tower can operate, then the airport should be close to fully operational within a few days,” said David Feldman, a managing partner at Exambela, an aviation consulting firm based in Paris.</p>
<p>This is from Reuters:
The airline said its overnight flights from London and Bangkok would land as scheduled in Nairobi on Thursday morning, the first overseas flights at the airport since the fire.</p>
<p>TENTS FOR INCOMING TRAVELLERS</p>
<p>Preparations to handle more international flights would be carried out on Thursday at the airport’s domestic terminal, said Michael Kamau, cabinet secretary for transport.</p>
<p>“From tomorrow we will be preparing this unit … as an international terminal for departures and arrivals,” Kamau told reporters. “We started pitching tents on the airside for handling departing passengers.”</p>
<p>Foreign carriers using the terminal include Emirates, British Airways, Qatar, KLM), Turkish Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian airlines.</p>
<p>Looks like things will be stabilized but not ideal for Aug. 22nd.</p>
<p>Thanks. I thought their ability to process passengers for security clearance was knocked out and that this was going to impact take-offs so that inbound international flights were coming to a halt until the flights could take on passengers at Nairobi for other international destinations.</p>
<p>My daughter is supposed to catch a flight out of Nairobi to Dubai (and then back to the US) on August 22nd. Does that still seem feasible?</p>
<p>My sister and her two kids are supposed to catch a plane out of Nairobi next Thursday. Good Lord. They are at a school in Malawi until then (the kids did their Scout projects for the children, and my sister is a literacy teacher who is giving clinics for the teachers and students).</p>
<p>My sister is the kind of person who is very nervous about traveling internationally. I can’t believe this is happening.</p>
<p>Well, my concern was getting into Kenya and then finding out that “for security reasons” you cannot fly out of Nairobi for several weeks.</p>
<p>I think things will open up over the weekend. Outbound international flights seem to have resumed according to some of the latest reports. I’m sure security will be tightened and there will be some delays.</p>
<p>My niece is being bussed out by airline, into Tanzania tomorrow. She was supposed tonfly out of Nairobi today. </p>
<p>I think it is going to be day by day, and the airlines are still unsure about what will happen in coming days. </p>
<p>This is a nightmare for so many folks stranded. :(</p>
<p>I have a couple of good friends from college who live in Kenya now. I am friends with them on FB so have been following this story from their perspective/postings. One is hosting her nephews who are supposed to fly home Friday.</p>
<p>SamuraiLandshark–do you know if the reason for your niece having to go to another airport to depart on an international flight is the lack of “full security” apparatus at the Nairobi airport? </p>
<p>As I have stated, if the international flights are going to be impacted by the lack of security procedures and equipment, this could mean a longer time for the busing etc.</p>
<p>Here is an AP story that indicates timing of resumption of international flights. Well—
[Kenya</a> airport fire: Slow return of int’l flights](<a href=“http://bigstory.ap.org/article/kenya-airport-fire-slow-return-intl-flights]Kenya”>http://bigstory.ap.org/article/kenya-airport-fire-slow-return-intl-flights)</p>
<p>Safe travels to all who are traveling and your families.</p>
<p>Any updates from people who actual are or were trying to enter or leave through Nairobi? I read a report that there was massive confusion and problems for those trying to get in or out of Kenya’s next largest airport due to small size and only 2 runways. Anyone heard anything recently?</p>
<p>A quote from 07DAD’s link: “Officials in Kenya investigating the massive airport fire that gutted the arrival hall at Nairobi’s main airport said Thursday that first responders looted electronics, a bank and an ATM during and after the blaze.” Good grief. That’s not making me feel any better about my family members traveling through there!</p>
<p>My sister posted about the airport on their way to Malawi (before the fire). She said that the shops had broken windows and empty shelves. The airport in Malawi is much nicer.</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn, welcome to the Third World. :rolleyes: Or even Second World.</p>
<p>It amazes me how many CCers have friends and relatives travelling through Nairobi!</p>
<p>And I thought it was bad when there was an air traffic controller’s semi-strike the day we were leaving France! There are worse places to be stranded. It seems that most places put an emphasis on maintaining their international flights over domestic. Let us hope, for the sake of everyone’s kith and kin, that holds true here.</p>
<p>07Dad, </p>
<p>I think the airline made a decision that they could get the passengers out of country by bus earlier than in terminal. I have no idea if it was a 1 day thing or if they are doing this with all flights for days or weeks to come. It was on Qatar Airlines. </p>
<p>Sorry to not be more helpful. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>SamuraiLandshark-- thanks.</p>
<p>I did see this post that shows lines and some attempt at organization at the airport.
[‘Too</a> early to tell cause’ of Nairobi airport fire](<a href=“http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/645884--too-early-to-tell-cause-of-nairobi-airport-fire.html]'Too”>http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/645884--too-early-to-tell-cause-of-nairobi-airport-fire.html)</p>
<p>The flight into Nairobi is on Aug 22 and the return is Sept 15, so I guess I will see how the next week plays out.</p>
<p>07Dad, my daughter is scheduled to fly out of Nairobi this Sunday. One of the domestic terminals has been set up to serve as an international terminal, and a special VIP terminal (usually used for e.g. arriving heads of state and other dignitaries) is being used to process arrivals. </p>
<p>Different airlines have handled this in different ways over the past couple of days. Qatar Airlines was using busses to transport passengers to different airports (I believe Mombasa, about a 10 hour ride). Emirates Air told passengers to rebook. By August 22, none of this should apply (knocks wood) but just to give you some background info on what it’s like right now. </p>
<p>FWIW the US embassy (if that’s your nationality) hasn’t been much use–based on various twitter feeds the British embassy was being much more helpful to its citizens. To be fair, the US embassies in the area have been a tad busy lately… :eek:</p>
<p>Everyone is being urged to confirm flights not being cancelled directly with their airlines before leaving for the airport, because things are crazy at the terminal. </p>
<p>If you don’t have good trip insurance–get it. Baggage gets stolen at the Nairobi airport in the best of times. Photograph and document your stuff so that if goes missing you’re prepared for filing insurance claims. Make sure you’re prepared for missed connections.</p>
<p>SlitheyTove–thank you for these details.</p>
<p>One last update for those who’re going to be travelling out of Nairobi in the near future: the airport is indeed quite chaotic, and no one seems to know where to go or what to do. Be prepared to roll with it. 
If you can learn a few words of Swahili beforehand–how to say hello and thank you–that will help garner some goodwill. Keep an eye on your baggage. Be aware that the police can be corrupt, so when they are checking the trunk of your vehicle you’ll want to keep any luggage containing valuables in the passenger compartment next to you. </p>
<p>That said, D1’s flight left on time and all of her luggage arrived home safely. Hoping the same for all of those who’ll be travelling to and from Nairobi soon!</p>