For obvious reasons, airports have become the number one means of international
travel, and it's no wonder why. While 30,000 feet in the air, you can conveniently be flown
to another nation in a matter of hours. Today, we're going to be talking about the homes of this
marvelous invention: airports. With a focus on Africa, we'll tell you all you need to know
about the mega airports in the continent and why they are notorious. Did you know an airport
in Africa has one of the longest runways in the world? Did you also know that an African
airport's officials are notorious for extortion and corruption? Stick around and find out more.
What's up, my Gistertainers. today, I'll tell you about the 10 biggest airports in Africa.
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For our Gistertainers who love to travel whether for business or pleasure,
you are sure to find this list rather enjoyable and helpful. Without further ado,
here are ten largest airports found in Africa. #10. Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)
We kick off this list with a popular entry. The Murtala
Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is an international airport located
in Ikeja, Lagos state, Nigeria. A new domestic privately funded terminal known
as MMA2 was commissioned on 7 April 2007. The airport sits at an elevation
of 135 feet above the mean sea level and equipped with two asphalt paved runways.
The airport has a reputation for having officials who extort travelers by any means necessary. It
gets so bad that government backed agencies have to step in sometimes and punish erring officials.
In November 2021, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria dismissed some of its officials
on the grounds of corruption and extortion. Their statement read, “In line with the Management’s
determination to rid the nation’s airport of corrupt officials, the Federal Airports Authority
of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended and suspended officials caught extorting a passenger at the
Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The officials, who are staff of Aviation Security
and Customer Service departments of the Authority, were immediately suspended, while the On Duty
Card of their accomplice from the Nigeria Immigration Service has been withdrawn”.
#9. Port Elizabeth International Airport Port Elizabeth International Airport is an
airport serving port Elizabeth, a city in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa.
The airport is equipped with two asphalt paved runways, 13 aircraft parking bays on the apron and
the terminal building measures 8700 square metres. It is also known as the ‘ten minute airport’,
because it is said to be less than ten minutes' drive from major areas of the city.
#8. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, formerly
called Embakasi Airport and Nairobi International Airport, is Kenya’s largest aviation facility.
It is in the process of constructing a category 2 runway of 4.8 kilometres long
and 75 metre wide runway at a cost of Ksh37 Billion (USD 370 million).
#7. Mohammed V International Airport Mohammed V International Airport is an
airport located in Nouasseur, a suburb 30 km south-east of Casablanca.
It is the largest airport in Morocco and has a network of approximately
100 destinations served by more than 30 airlines. With just under 8 million passengers passing
through the airport in 2014, it was the busiest airport in Morocco and the fourth
busiest in Africa. In August 2014, ONDA reported a year-on-year increase of 7.28% passenger traffic,
to 918,238. The airport serves as hub for Royal Air Maroc, Royal Air Maroc Express
and Air Arabia Maroc. It is named after King Mohammed V of Morocco, who led the
country's successful push for independence from French and Spanish colonial rule.
#6. Hurghada International Airport Hurghada International Airport is an international
airport located inland, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of El Dahar, the downtown of Hurghada.
It has two terminals and runway measuring 13156 ft (or 4010 m) long.
Construction of the new terminal complex cost $335 million, which was mainly financed by the Arab
Fund for Economic Development. Egypt's aviation minister, Houssam Kamal, said that the airport
would be able to host up to 13 million visitors annually. The project was inaugurated by President
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on December 17, 2014. The new terminal has a total area of 92,000 square
meters on three levels. The departure hall has 72 check-in counters and 20 departure gates.
#5. Sharm El Sheikh International Airport Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is
an international airport located in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
It is located in 18 kilometers (11 miles) northeast from the city of Sharm El
Sheikh and has two passenger terminals. The airport sits at an elevation of 143
feet above the mean sea level and has a runway of 10111 ft (3082 m) long.
#4. King Shaka International Airport King Shaka International Airport also known
as La Mercy Airport, and abbreviated KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa.
It is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km north of Durban.
The airport was opened in June 2010 in readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and replaced
the existing Durban International Airport. It has a 3.7km runway which allows for the Airbus
A380 and Boeing 747s to use the airport. King Shaka International Airport
was first conceptualised in the 1970s, with construction beginning in 1973. By 1975,
earthworks and a storm drainage system had been completed. However, the project was halted
in 1982 due to the economic slowdown at the time. The project was revived in the late 1990s
when the limitations of Durban International Airport became apparent. Today, it has become
a beautiful spectacle to behold. #3. Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport is the primary airport serving the city of Cape Town.
It is located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city centre and boasts of world class
facilitates like an automated baggage handling system, capable of handling 30,000 bags per hour.
Restaurants within the terminal building are located on the upper (3rd) level above the
departures level, which includes what is purported to be the largest Spur restaurant on the African
continent, at 1,080 m2 (or 11,600 sq ft). #2. Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport is the largest airport in Egypt and the second largest in Africa.
It is located to the north-east of the city around 15 kilometres from the business area of the city.
Over 65 airlines use Cairo airport (including charter airlines) and 9 cargo airlines.
The airport has three terminals, with the third (and largest) opened on 27 April 2009.
#1. O.R. Tambo International Airport The king of airports in Africa
is undoubtedly our number one on this list. The O.R. Tambo International Airport is
Africa's biggest and busiest airport, facilitating approximately 19 million passengers a year.
More than 50 percent of South Africa's air travelling passengers
are facilitated through the airport. It is situated in Gauteng, the heart
of South Africa's commercial and industrial hub and has excellent road infrastructure
linking it to Johannesburg, Pretoria and the national road network.
It is situated almost 1,700 metres (or 5,500 feet) above the mean sea level,
which means some aircraft must reduce weight by loading less fuel than they would otherwise
because the air is thin. The thinner air is also the reason behind the longer than usual runways.
There are two parallel north–south runways and a disused cross runway. The western runway is over
4400 m (or 14,000 ft) long, making it one of the world's longest international airport runways.
It was originally known as Jan Smuts International Airport, after the former South African Prime
Minister of the same name. The airport was renamed Johannesburg International Airport
in 1994 when the newly elected African National Congress (ANC) government implemented a policy
of not naming airports after politicians. This policy was later reversed, and on 27
October 2006 the airport was re-named after anti-apartheid politician, Oliver Reginald Tambo.
Well, that's all we've got for you for now. What do you think about the airports on this list? Do
you think there are some airports that should be on this list? If you had the chance, in what
order would you arrange these airports and why would you arrange them that way? Let's hear your
thoughts by dropping a comment below. Don't forget to subscribe by clicking the red subscribe button
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