Nairobi, June 14 -- Kenya is primed to restore its position as East Africa's leading aviation hub amid rising competition from rival African gateways. This comes as high operating costs, infrastructure degradation and financial pressures on airlines continue to test the sector's resilience.

Industry executives say Kenya's ongoing reforms, airport modernisation projects and efforts to strengthen connectivity are improving the country's prospects. However, sustaining that momentum will require significant investment across the aviation value chain.

Nairobi has positioned itself as East Africa's aviation gateway, benefiting from its strategic location and the presence of national carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ), as a regional carrier linking A...