Airports in Africa are typically experiencing a surge in domestic and international travel. Most airports in Africa are either undergoing maintenance or are undergoing scheduled maintenance and expansion to accommodate this increase in passenger numbers. This list contains the 20 busiest airports in Africa based on the number of passengers handled by the airport each year and other facts. Airports may not be fully classified as values converge across airports.
1. OR Tambo International Airport: First in the list is the South African airport. It is undoubtedly the largest and busiest airport in all of Africa. Around 18 million passengers pass through the terminals every year and are being expanded to handle 28 million passengers.
2. Cairo International Airport: Located in the city of Cairo, handles more than 13 million passengers annually. This makes it the second busiest airport in Africa.
3. Cape Town International Airport: Another South African airport with more than 8 million passengers per year making it the third busiest African airport.
4. Mohammed V Casablanca International Airport: This is one of the top 10 airports in Africa in terms of infrastructure design, passenger numbers and service offerings. Mohammed V International Airport handles more than 7 million passengers annually.
6. Hurghada International Airport: Located in Hurghada, Egypt, the airport handles more than 5 million travelers through its terminals annually.
7. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport: The busiest airport in east and central Africa, it is the hub for air traffic within the region. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is located in Nairobi and is used by more than 5 million passengers annually.
8. Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport: Located in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, this originally Israeli air force base is one of the most important airports in Africa, serving more than 5 million people transiting through it annually.
9. Bole International Airport: Located in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Bole International Airport is the main hub of Ethiopian Airlines, the national airline that operates flights to destinations in Ethiopia and across the African continent, as well as non-stop flights to Asia, Europe and North America offers. In general, more than 5 million people are supplied with the device annually.
10. King Shaka International Airport Durban: This airport is located in Durban, South Africa. Also known as La Mercy Airport, the airport is designed for the Airbus A380. It serves more than 5 million people every year and is currently the 10th busiest airport in Africa.
11. Houari Boumedienne Airport: Algiers, Algeria has one of the busiest airports in Africa. Named after Houari Boumediene, a former President of Algeria. Dar El Beïda, the Air Facility has a capacity of 6 million passengers per year, but is currently used by around 4.7 million travelers.
12. Carthage Airport: Named after the city of Carthage in Tunisia, the airport serves around 4 million people annually.
13. Monastir International Airport: Still in Tunisia, Monastir International Airport serves around 3 million people each year but has a capacity of 3.5 million. Airport activity is mainly due to the movement of tourists coming to Monastir, Sousse and the surrounding resorts. It is one of the 20 busiest airports in Africa.
14. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport: This long-named airport is located in Mauritius. The airport is the main international airport in Mauritius and has direct flights to Africa, Asia and Europe. Due to the number of passengers of around 2.5 million passengers per year, it should become a regional hub.
15. Djerba International Airport – Zarzis: This airport serves the country of Djerba in Tunisia. and has an annual passenger turnover in the neighborhood of 2 million.
16. Tripoli International Airport: Located 34 kilometers south of central Tripoli, Libya. With an estimated 2 million passengers a year, the airport hosts 13 airlines serving Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
17. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is located in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria (Abuja). It is operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and is used by an estimated 2 million people annually.
18. Yoff Airport: Yoff Airport is located near the town of Yoff, north of Dakar, Senegal. The airport can handle aircraft up to the size of the Boeing 747 and passenger numbers in excess of 1 million.
19. Luxor International Airport: Located 6 km east of Luxor city, Luxor International Airport (LXR) is an entry point for the popular Nile Valley tourist destination. She was handed over to the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority by the British Military Authority in May 1946 and given the importance of her location to them. It has been developed several times since it is located in the most important archaeological area in the world.
20. Marrakech Menara Airport: This is an international facility that receives several European flights, as well as flights from Casablanca and some Arab countries.