﻿THE 15 BEST AFRICAN AIRPORTS IN 2022 With about 95 million passengers traveling
through the continent in 2019, Africa became one of the fastest-growing regions in the
Aviation industry, driven by tourism. Pandemic travel restrictions saw the number drop to just
about 35 million in 2020. However, Africa’s aviation industry is on the rebound thanks
to pent-up demand from tourists desperate to explore the event after the long lockdown.
African airports are still facing various challenges including restrictions on countries
with limited vaccination programs and reduced workforce due to wide lay-offs. Despite all the
challenges, they’re still noticeably serving at their best and so from 2022’s statistics,
the 15 best African airports are; JULIUS NYERERE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Located approximately 12 kilometers Southwest of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, Julius
Nyerere International Airport was named after Julius Nyerere, the country’s first president.
Formerly known as “Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere International Airport”, it had a total of
over 9.5 million passengers from 1980 to 2004 and till 2019; it only had two terminals in which it
was operating. Following a contract signed by the Tanzania Airports Authority with BAM International
of Netherlands in April 2013, a third terminal was constructed which began operation in August 2019.
The airport is currently made up of terminal I, II and III, which handle chattered fights,
domestic flights and international flights respectively. Capable of transporting close
to 3 million passengers a year, the airport has flights to destinations in Africa, Asia,
Europe and Middle East. As a nominee for the 27th edition of the World Travel Awards,
it is among the best African airports. This is Think Rich Media, the number one
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Previously known as the Plaisance Airport, it is the main international airport in Mauritius,
located 30 miles southeast of the Capital city Port Louis. In operation since the end
of the Second World War, it has boosted the Mauritian economy to a great extent.
In 1986, the airport underwent infrastructural development in order to create accommodation
for larger aircraft band as a result; a new terminal was constructed including air bridges,
a car park and custom service points. Owned and operated by Airports of Mauritius Co.Ltd,
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport transports over 3 million passengers
annually with approximately 25 airlines to multiple destinations in Africa, Asia,
Europe and its home country. MARRAKESH MENERA AIRPORT
Serving Marrakesh the capital city of Marrakesh-Safi region in Moroco,
the Marrakesh Menera Airport is an international facility that was used during the second world war
by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command as a center for cargo, transiting aircraft
and personnel. The airport has three terminals with the first two designed to handle 2.5 million
passengers per year, it is equipped with an ISL Cat II landing system, it offers the VOR, DME
and NDB radio navigation aids and has an aircraft parking space of 125,000 square meters. Operated
by ONDA and Royal Air Force, the Marrakesh Menera Airport has 35 airlines and transports to and fro
multiple destinations in Europe, Casablanca and the Arab World nations. From its statistics,
it has proven to be one of the best in Africa. NNAMDI AZIKIWE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Serving Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
was named after Nigeria’s first president Nnamdi Azikiwe. From a $101 million contract signed by
the Abuja Gateway Consortium in November 2006, an airport hotel, private car parks, shopping
malls and a bonded warehouse were constructed for the airport. The airport is also made up of an
office for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and a private jet wing that serves businesses,
diplomats and politicians in the city. With a completed runway, the airport has 22 airlines
and travels to and fro multiple destinations home and abroad. Owned and operated by the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, it has the capacity to handle more than 15 million passengers
a year and it is one of Africa’s best. BRAM FISCHER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Sharing its runways with AFB Bloemspruit, Bram Fischer International Airport is located
in Bloemfontein, the capital city of the Free State province South Africa. Having
undergone a R46 million worth construction and upgrade for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,
it has a main terminal building used for both international and domestic flights.
Operated by ACSA South Africa Air Force, it has the capacity of serving over 400
thousand passengers yearly. KING SHAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35km north of the city of Durban, King Shaka
International Airport is the primary international airport serving Durban South Africa. Objewctively
built to grow the areas international services, the airport is still a key point for domestic
services throughout South Africa, serving the Golden Triangle between Cape Town INTERNATIONAL
Airport , Tambo international Airport in Johannesburg and KSIA itself with 7 passenger and
2 cargo airlines offering domestic air services. Owned and operated by the Dube Trade port
Corporation and Airports Company South Africa, it was designed by Osmond Lange Architects and
Planners and cost $900 million. Since it opened its doors to passengers on the 1st of May 2010,
it has been experiencing an increase in the total number of passengers per year.
JOMO KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Located in the Embakasi suburb, 18km southeast
of Nairobi’s central business district, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was opened on the
9th of March 1958 by the last colonial governor of Kenya. The airport has two terminals which handle
domestic and international fights, lounges, two runways, a restaurant offering Authentic Kenyan
and African cuisine, an American fast food chain, the head office for African Express Airways and
the head office of the Kenyan Airport Authority. Originally known as the Embakasi Airport,
the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was named in honor of Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta.
Operated by the Kenya Airport Authority, it served over 7 million passengers in 2016
and became the seventh busiest airport in the continent. Currently with 44 airlines,
it transports passengers and cargo to multiple destinations all over the world. Statistics has
shown that it is among the best in Africa. BOLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Formerly known as Haile Selassie I international airport, the Addis Ababa
Bole International Airport is found in the Bole district, 6km southeast of the center and 65km
north of Bishoftu. After several expansion plans have been achieved in it since 1997,
the airport is currently made up of two terminals, 11 gates more than 30 remote
aircraft parking stands and a cloud 9 business class lounge. Owned by Ethiopian Airlines and
operated by Ethiopian Airports Enterprise, it has 20 airlines which serve destinations in Ethiopia,
throughout the African continent Asia, Europe, South America and North America. It is the
base of the Ethiopian Aviation Academy and from statistics since 2018, it transports and average
of 12 million passengers annually. KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
SERVING Kigali the capital of Rwanda, the Kigali International Airporet , formerly known as Kanombe
International Airport is located in the surburb of Kanombe sectorat the eastern edge of Kigali.
It was a mojor strategic point during the Rwandan Civil war as it is the easiest way
in and out of the country. With the capacity of serving close to a million passengers yearly,
it has three terminals with a head office at the top floor of its main building.
The Ligali airport is known to be one of the best in the African region because of its capacity to
respond disaster through its fire department. It has two helicopter pads on its south side, a cargo
terminal, free Wi-Fi at its waiting arena and offices of the Rwanda civik aviation authority.
SHARM EL SHEIKH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Previously known as Ophira International Airport,
the Sharm El Sheikh International Airport located in Sharm El Sheikh Egypt is the 3rd busiest
airport in the Nation. Opened on the 14th of May 1968, it currently has 3 terminals with a total
capacity for about 20 million passengers. Operated by the Egyptian government, it has 58 airlines
which transports to and fro multiple destinations home and abroad. Statistics has shown that
following its developments and expansions over the years, it serves over 8 million passengers yearly.
Beautifully structured, it is indeed one of the best airports in Africa.
HURGHADA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Located inland, 5km southwest of El Dahar,
Hurghada International Airport is the second busiest airport in Egypt after
Cairo international airport. Serving Hurghada, Egypt, it has two passenger terminals and it is
able to host 13 million visitors yearly. Operated by the government, it is a public airport with 54
airlines transporting passengers to and fro multiple destinations in Africa and beyond.
It is a well-equipped important destination for leisure flights especially from Europe and is
indeed one of the Africa’s best. MOHAMMED V INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Located in Nouaceur Province, it is an international airport serving Casablanca,
Morocco, operated by ONDA. Originally built by the United States in the early 1943,
it was named Berrechid Airfield and served as an auxiliary airfield for Casablanca’s Anfa Airport.
Transporting over 10 million passengers yearly, it is owned by ONDA and is the busiest airport
in Morocco. It serves as a center for Royal Air Maroc, Royal Air Maroc Express and Air Arabia
Maroc. Named after King Mohammed V of Morocco, it is the fourth busiest airport in Africa,
with over 26 airlines transporting passengers to many destinations around the world.
CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Opened in 1954 to replace Cape
Town’s previous Airport Wingfield Aerodrome, Cape Town International Airport is the second
busiest airport in South Africa and one of the busiest in Africa. It is the lone airport in the
Cape Town metropolitan area that offers scheduled passenger services and is located approximately 20
kilometers from the city area. It was extensively expanded and renovated in preparation for the
2010 FIFA World Cup and after undergoing several other development projects, it has three uniquely
designed terminals, two hotels located within its precinct, an ExecuJet facility and a MyCiti BRT
station. It has multiple airlines which transport passenger to and fro destinations in Africa and
beyond and from recent statistics, it annually transports over 10 million passengers in about
95,000 aircraft movements. CAIRO INTERNATIONL AIRPORT
Serving as the primary unit for Egypt Air and Nile Air, the Cairo International Airport is located in
Heliopolis, northeast of Cairo, approximately 15km from the business area of the city. It
has four terminals with facilities which include hall 1 for departure, hall 3 for internationals
and hall 4 for private and non-commercial aircraft services. Commonly, terminal one is known as the
old airport while 2, 3 and 4 are known to be nee. The airport has a MiniMetro people mover which
links terminal 1, the AirMall, the multi-storey car park and Terminals 2 and 3, a main station
located between terminals 2 and 3 and a luxury 350 room five-star hotel opened in front of terminal
3. As a hub for middle East and Africa, the airport facilities are in constant development.
several projects are currently being carried out for its development which include; construction of
a multi-story car park near terminal 3, upgrade of the land-side façade of terminal 1, development of
real estate and the Oasis Project which entails a business park with Company headquarters and
regional offices and the construction of Aerocity, a family leisure park. Owned by the Egyptian
Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, it has multiple airlines transporting passengers
to multiple destinations all over the world. O.R.TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Serving as the primary airport for domestic and international travel to and fro South Africa,
the O.R. Tambo International Airport is situated in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa. Originally
known as Jan Smuts, it was founded in 1952 and used as a test airport for Concorde during the
1970s. The airport became the first in Africa to host the Airbus A380 on the 26th of November 2006.
It has two runways adjacent to the airport’s terminal buildings which are equipped with
approach lighting systems, a network of asphalt taxiways connecting runways,
aprons and maintenance facilities and six terminals broken down in to three main areas.
Owned and operated by the airport’s company South Africa, it has 50 airlines which
transports passenger to multiple destination and serves as the center for South African Airways.
Capable of handling over 28 million passengers a year, it is the second busiest airport in Africa.
Airports are of course vital contributors to a country’s economy and are also the
first point of contact that a foreigner who comes in by air has with a country.
Statistics therefore has shown that these airports highlighted in this video have not
just gone a long way in boosting Africa’s economy but have left foreigners with very
good impressions about the continent and so, to the management of these various
institutions we say Great Job! And to all those seeking to have a great flight experience,
you should try one of these. . If you enjoyed watching this video, please do not forget to
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