It lies approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), by road, south of the central business district.

Industries that use Wilson Airport extensively include tourism, health care and agriculture.

As a result of faster check-in times and fewer flight delays, as compared to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport is commonly used by business executive aircraft for domestic and international travel.

[5] The airport was established as Nairobi West Aerodrome in 1929 by Florence Kerr Wilson, a wealthy widow.

Built at a cost of £50,000 (£3.2 million in 2020), Mrs Wilson hired pilot Tom Campbell Black to run the airport.