Isiolo airport is set to open to domestic scheduled operations with local scheduled carriers Fly540 (FFV, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) and Fly SAX (Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta) both planning to launch flights from the central Kenyan town. The airport is waiting on final clearance from the Kenya Civil Association Authority, reports Business Daily Africa.

A spokesperson for Fly540 told ch-aviation that they had not yet decided on a state date for their Isiolo operations.

Construction of the KES1.7 billion (USD16.4 million) airport is part of the Kenyan government's Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to position Isiolo as a tourist centre.

Locals are hopeful that cargo operations will operate soon, and that the opening of the airport will facilitate the speedy transport of khat, a perishable plant with stimulant properties, which is grown in the region.

"We will be able to export miraa [the local name for khat] directly from Isiolo airport to Mombasa, Nairobi, Jubaland, Somalia and other countries," local grower Isiah Miriti told the news site. "The heavy losses we normally incur while transporting the commodity via road to Nairobi Wilson Airport will reduce."

Other farmers are hopeful the opening of the airport will also allow the transport of livestock.

The airport had been scheduled to open at the end of June, but this was delayed while additional work was carried out to improve drainage. Following the start of domestic operations, further work will be made to the airport to extend the runway from 1,400 metres to 4,000 metres. It is anticipated that the 5,000 square metre terminal will be able to handle 125,000 passengers annually.