Isiolo Airport in eastern Kenya is set to become an international airport after undergoing major upgrading at a cost of Ksh2.7 billion (€24m).

The airport is part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 flagship project, which aims to develop Isiolo into a tourism hub that will include a modern airport, hotels, casinos, upscale retail outlets and transport facilities. President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially commission the new international airport in January next year.

Transport Principal Secretary, Irungu Nyakera, said the upgrading of the airport was complete and that it would receive its first charter flight this month, with scheduled flights starting next month.

Nyakera said the new 4 500 sqm passenger terminal was capable of receiving 125 000 passengers annually. In the upgrading, the airport’s runway was extended from 1.4km to 2.5km to enable bigger aircraft to land.