Airports in Africa are essential contributors to a country’s economy and the initial point of contact for a foreigner with a country. Africa’s aviation industry is thriving, accounting for around 3% of worldwide air traffic. Despite the fact that their skies are not the busiest in the world, most African nations have witnessed an increase in air travel demand in the last 20 years. In this article, you’ll find the busiest airports in Africa. The ranking is based on the proportion of passengers departing and arriving.
Top 10 Busiest Airports in Africa in 2024
1. O. R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa
Tambo International Airport is Africa’s busiest airport and the principal gateway to and from South Africa for domestic and international travel. O. R. has 188 planned explorer trips each week with a passenger capacity of up to 30 million per year. The airport first opened in 1952 as Johannesburg International Airport and was renamed after anti-apartheid hero Oliver Reginald Tambo in 2006. The airport serves as the hub for South African Airways.
2. Cairo International Airport, Egypt
Cairo International Airport is the principal international airport in Egypt and the busiest airport in the country. According to Flightsfrom.com, the airport handles about 111 passenger flights daily and an annual operational capacity of 15 million passengers to about 84 destinations across the globe
The airport is operated by Cairo Airport Company and is located at Heliopolis to the northeast of Cairo around 15 kilometers from the business area of the city. It is the second busiest airport in Africa after the O.R Tambo International Airport. The Airport is home to 65 airlines as well as 9 cargo carriers.
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3. Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa
Bole International Airport is one of the top 10 busiest airports in Africa and Africa’s third busiest, serving 100 passengers every hour on scheduled explorer flights. Additionally, every year, it handles around 12 million people. Due to its prominence as Ethiopian Airlines’ major hub, the airport is one of Africa’s busiest. In terms of passenger traffic and countries covered. Ethiopian Airlines is the continent’s largest airline and the world’s fourth-largest airline.
Additionally, every year, it handles around 12 million people. Due to its prominence as Ethiopian Airlines’ major hub, the airport is one of Africa’s busiest. In terms of passenger traffic and countries covered. Ethiopian Airlines is the continent’s largest airline and the world’s fourth-largest airline.
4. Cape Town International Airport, South Africa
Cape Town International Airport is the second busiest airport in South Africa and the fourth busiest in Africa. It is now Africa’s best airport, featuring world-class amenities like a 30,000-bag-per-hour automated baggage processing system.
Cape Town is also a major tourism destination in Africa, attracting visitors from all over the world. There are direct flights to major travel destinations in Africa, the United States, and Asia. It also won first place for being the cleanest and having the greatest personnel on the continent.
5. Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca, Morocco
Casablanca’s Mohamed V airport is the fifth busiest airport in Africa, serving over 10 million passengers passing through each year. Casablanca is Morocco’s most populated and prominent city, as well as a point of arrival and departure for Moroccans going to and from Europe. The airport also serves as the principal hub for the renowned Moroccan carrier Royal Air Maroc.
Additionally, it is named after Morocco’s King Mohammed V, who spearheaded the country’s victorious independence from French and Spanish colonial domination.
6. Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nigeria
Murtala Muhammed International Airport is one of the top 10 busiest airports located in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub. With 78 scheduled exploration expeditions, Murtala Muhammed International Airport is Africa’s sixth busiest and Nigeria’s largest airport. However, the airport is named after Murtala Muhammed, a former Nigerian head of state, and serves the cities of Lagos and Ibadan.
Additionally, Murtala Muhammed International Airport has an international and a domestic terminal, which are roughly one kilometer apart. The runways for both terminals are the same.
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7. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the busiest in Kenya and the seventh busiest in Africa. On average, it serves over 7 million people traveling through the airport each year. This airport has flights scheduled to over 50 different countries.
In 1978, the airport was named after Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta. However, each week, 57 exploration trips are arranged through the airport’s booking system, making it Africa’s tenth busiest airport.
8. Dar es Salaam International Airport, Tanzania
Dar es Salaam International Airport (DAR) is Tanzania’s busiest airport and the eighth busiest on the African continent. Every year, more than 6.5 million travelers pass through the airport, connecting Tanzania to worldwide destinations in Europe, Asia, and North America. From this airport, you can fly to 32 destinations with 26 airlines in scheduled passenger traffic.
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9. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Nigeria
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is Nigeria’s second busiest airport after Murtala Muhammed Airport. The airport is Africa’s ninth busiest airport, with 59 scheduled voyager excursions. Every year, the airport handles more than 6 million people.
10. Hurghada International Airport, Egypt
Hurghada International Airport is Egypt’s second busiest airport and Africa’s tenth, servicing over 5.5 million people each year. This airport has one terminal and is located 5 kilometers southwest of El Dahar.
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