How to apply for an Air Service License in Kenya

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is mandated to license all air services in the country. In executing this and its other responsibilities, KCAA is guided by the provisions of the relevant statutes, including: the Civil Aviation Act, 2013 and the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations, 2018. This is a guide on How to apply for an Air Service License in Kenya

Procedure

• The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is mandated to license all air services in the country. In executing this and its other responsibilities, KCAA is guided by the provisions of the relevant statutes, including: the Civil Aviation Act, 2013 and the Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations, 2018.
  

Apply in Person

1. To obtain an Air Service Licence , one has to complete and submit the prescribed Application for an Air Service Licence application form to the Air Transport Department offices: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Aviation House, Tower B, 2nd floor
2. This form can be obtained by visiting the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Branch Offices or by downloading it from their KCAA Website.
3. After filling the application documents required to submit them to the Air Transport Department offices: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: Aviation House, Tower B, 2nd floor
4. You are to submit the application documents with all the required documents. These documents include:-
   (i). Operations Statistics (Last one year)
   (ii). Audited Accounts for the previous financial year
   (iii). Insurance including third party liability
   (iv). Air Operators Certificate
   (v). Business Plan (New applicant)
   (vi). Certificate of Incorporation (New applicant)
   (vii). Memos and articles of association (New applicant)
   (viii). Source funding (New applicant)
   (ix). Any other additional document to support the application.
   (x). All copies of attached documents should be certified by an advocate/commissioner for.
   • You should note that generally, all the following minimum requirements should be met for all applications:-
   (a). The entity should be registered in Kenya.
   (b). Have a duly registered office and permanent premises in Kenya.
   (c). Provide details of shareholders and directors.
   (d). Issue at least 51% of its shares to Kenyans.
   (e). Provide evidence of compliance with tax requirements.
5. You are also to proceed to pay the prescribed application fees and submit the payment receipt to together with the application documents.
   • Application fee of US $ 1,500 is charged for new application
6. Upon submission of the application documents the authority’s Inspectors will then carry out an in depth review of the contents of each document submitted for regulatory compliance, relevance and scope.
7. After a successful evaluation phase the Authority Shall carry out an inspection of the organisation’s facility, stations, programs, systems and processes to ensure that the organisation declarations and commitments stated in the documents are actually available, functional, are of the recommended standard and that there are qualified persons in the recommended numbers to perform the aircraft maintenance related activities in the organisation different departments and sections.
8. When all regulatory requirements for approval of the license are satisfactorily met, the Authority shall prepare and issue to the applicant the Air Service License that shall be valid for a period of twelve calendar months (12 months) which indicate the approval scope and limitations.
9. The whole process takes a period of 120 days to complete.

Required Documents

1. Operations Statistics (Last one year)
2. Audited Accounts for the previous financial year
3. Insurance including third party liability
4. Air Operators Certificate
5. Business Plan (New applicant)
6. Certificate of Incorporation (New applicant)
7. Memos and articles of association (New applicant)
8. Source funding (New applicant)
9. Any other additional document to support the application.
10. All copies of attached documents should be certified by an advocate/commissioner for oaths
    

Office Locations & Contacts

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority – Head Office,
Aviation House, Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport, Nairobi
Tel: +254 020 827470-75
Mobile: +254 728 606 570, +254 709 725000
+254 728 606 586, +254 734 000 491, +254 734 000492
Fax: + 254 020 822300
P.O. Box 30163 -00100 Nairobi
Email: info@kcaa.or.ke
Email: airworthinessstaff@kcaa.or.ke
Website: KCAA Website

Other Regional Offices Contacts

Eligibility

• A person who

1. intends to provide any air service;
2. intends to continue with an air service whose licence is due to expire;
3. wishes to vary the terms or conditions specified on the licence;
4. is deemed by the Authority to have made significant changes that have a significant bearing on the finances or control of the air carrier

should apply to the Authority for a licence.

Fees

• Application fee of US $ 1,500 is charged for new application
• Charges for Air Navigation Services and Regulatory Fees
  

Validity

• The validity at any time of an air service licence is dependent upon the possession of a valid air operator certificate specifying the activities covered by the air service licence.
• The validity usually is twelve months.
  

Documents to Use

• Application for An Air Service Licence

Processing Time

• The processing time is approximately one hundred and twenty days.

Instructions

• The applicant should –

1. Complete the prescribed renewal application form,
2. Submit the completed form with all the required documents.
3. Pay the applicable fees and submit the payment receipt.
4. Wait for evaluation and inspection by the Authority
5. Wait for the processing period to elapse then collect your new Air Service License
   

Required Information – Air Service License in Kenya

1. Name of applicant
2. Business address of applicant
3. If the applicant is a company (registered office, company registration no, date of incorporation, operating or business name and address of correspondence)
4. Nationality of applicant
5. State the type of service applied for (i.e. whether scheduled air service, non- scheduled air service, aerial work service, flying instructions, etc.)
6. List all other air services operated by the applicant at the time of this application and give the relevant license numbers
7. Enumerate particulars of working arrangements that the applicant has with any other company operating an air service
8. Financial particulars
9. Staffing, organization and kenyanization of company
10. Terms and conditions of employment in the company
11. Particulars of any experience of air transport operations or any other relevant experience of the directors and senior management employees of the company
12. Aircraft and equipment (state the aircraft which you employ or intend to employ on air services applied for giving particulars)
13. Liability for loss or damage information
14. Declaration

Need for the Document – Air Service License in Kenya

• This allows application/ certificate allows the authority to regulate activities of maintenance organizations.
• It also allows the applicant to engage in Air Service in Kenya
• The process is designed to ensure that prospective holder of the Air Service Licence to fully be aware of the applicable Regulations, has satisfied all the requirements and is capable of fulfilling and maintaining the approval standards.
  

Information which might help

• In respect of air carriers of other States, the Authority may accept as sufficient evidence, the production of licences, certificates and documents issued by competent authorities in the States of origin regarding the competence, technical and financial fitness of the air carriers.

External Links

• The Civil Aviation Act
• Civil Aviation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations, 2018.
  

Others

• Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) was established on 24th October 2002 by the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, 2002 with the primary functions towards; Air Service License in Kenya

1. Regulation and oversight of Aviation Safety & Security;
2. Economic regulation of Air Services and development of Civil Aviation;
3. Provision of Air Navigation Services, and Training of Aviation personnel KCAA;

as guided by the provisions of the convention on international civil aviation, related ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), the Kenya Civil Aviation Act, 2013 and the civil aviation regulations.

Licensing requirements

Any person looking to apply for a new ASL should fill in and submit the ASL Application Form (PDF) The minimum requirements for acceptance of an application for each type of license and applicable fees are available on the form.

Generally, all applicants for air service licenses should meet the following minimum conditions:

• The entity should be registered in Kenya.
• Have a duly registered office and permanent premises in Kenya.
• Provide details of shareholders and directors.
• Issue at least 51% of its shares to Kenyans.
• Provide evidence of compliance with tax requirements.

Licensing procedures

An application for an ASL will require a minimum of 120 days to process. KCAA will only initiate the evaluation process of an application upon receipt of complete submission together with the prescribed fees. An incomplete application may result in a delay in processing and possible rejection. The latest KCAA decisions relating to ASL can be found here.

Once an application is accepted, it undergoes processing, which may include publication in the Kenya Gazette and a public hearing in accordance with the law. At the conclusion of the licensing process, an applicant is advised of the outcome in writing.

Application forms

Click below for the relevant Air Service License application form:

• New Air Service License.
• Renewal of Air Service License.
• Variation of Air Service License.
• Inclusive Tour Charter.

Application submission

Submit your application package to our Air Transport Department offices:

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Aviation House, Tower B, 2nd floor