NAIROBI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Investment Bank (EIB) on Wednesday confirmed that its technical assistance team is currently working with the Kenya Airport Authority to assess structural damage and identify steps necessary following last week's fire at the arrivals hall of the main airport.
EIB's VP responsible for sub-Saharan Africa Pim van Ballekom said the Bank's transport experts are already in place to ensure smooth airport operations during rehabilitation and will now work closely with relevant authorities following the fire
"Ensuring efficient transport links through JKIA, as East Africa's leading transport hub, is essential not only for the people and businesses of Kenya, but for economic activity across Africa." said Van Ballekom.
He said the specialized technical staff, backed by the EU- Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund, and the EIB's regional office in Nairobi were mobilized last week to provide any help needed.
Europe's long-term lending institution has been working closely with airport authorities since an agreement in 2009 to finance airport infrastructure and help minimize operational disruption during construction work.
The move comes as Kenyan authorities announced that the new international arrivals facility is now operational.
Kenya Airways Chief Operating Officer, Mbuvi Ngunze said the new temporary international arrivals facility at the Presidential Pavilion in JKIA is now operational.
The facility, which will handle Kenya Airways flights and flights operated by Kenya Airways' customer airlines, began processing arriving passengers on Tuesday.
"We would like to commend Kenya Airports Authority, Immigrations and Customs departments for the speedy mounting of the facility which will enable us to provide improved and convenient baggage handling services to our arriving passengers," Ngunze said.
He said the cargo and freight services have resumed operations at the cargo terminal between 10:00 p.m. (local time) and 6:00 a.m. .
Ngunze said Kenya Airways Cargo will on Wednesday operate freighter services between Nairobi and Juba while on Thursday, the freighter will operate on the Nairobi-Entebbe-Kigali-Nairobi sector.
"Following the fire disruption which forced us to suspend online check-in, we are pleased to announce that this feature will be reopened from Wednesday," he said, adding that Kenya Airways begun regular schedule on Wednesday.
Experienced EIB transport experts will identify immediate steps and see how to reconstruction efforts can be supported by the previously agreed funding.
Van Ballekom said the EIB stands ready to assist the airport authorities overcome the recent fire and build on close cooperation in recent years to help Nairobi's main airport continue to grow in the years ahead.
"The Kenyan government and KAA can be congratulated for allowing a resumption of airport operations so soon after the fire. The EU Bank's airport experts and other financial institutions in Nairobi already working on JKIA's expansion plans have been asked to help in any way they can," he said.
In December 2009, the EIB agreed to provide 93 million U. S. dollars to finance the upgrading and rehabilitation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Given the complexity of the project at an operational airport a 6 million dollars support program was put in place to help minimize disruption during upgrading and rehabilitation.
The grant from the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund will be used to provide technical assistance, capacity building and environmental support.
Agence Francaise de Developpement also agreed to provide 93 million dollars for the airport upgrading scheme.
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