The African continent has a burgeoning aviation industry, accounting for roughly 3% of global air traffic. Despite the fact that their skies are far from the busiest in the world, most African countries have seen a surge in demand for air travel in the past 20 years.
Due to the growing number of air travelers on the continent, airports have become increasingly busy. In this article, we look at the busiest airports in Africa. We use the percentage of passengers departing and arriving to rank the busiest airports.
1. O. R. Tambo International Airport (South Africa)
With 188 scheduled explorer excursions per week and a capacity of up to 30 million passengers per year, O. R. Tambo International Airport is Africa's busiest airport and the primary airport for domestic and international travel to and from South Africa.
The airport was opened in 1952 and was known as Johannesburg International Airport until 2006, when it was renamed after anti-apartheid leader Oliver Reginald Tambo.
2. Cairo International Airport (Egypt)
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the second busiest in Africa. Every week, the air terminal handles approximately 111 flights, with a total yearly usage capacity of 15 million passengers to approximately 84 destinations across the world.
Cairo International Airport is operated by Cairo Airport Company and is located in Heliopolis, some 15 kilometers from Cairo's business core in the city's upper east. Cairo International Airport serves 65 airlines and 9 cargo carriers.
3. Bole International Airport (Ethiopia)
Bole International Airport is Africa's third busiest airport, with 100 people every hour on scheduled explorer journeys. It handles more than 12 million every year. The airport is one of Africa's busiest due to its status as Ethiopian Airlines' main hub. Ethiopian Airlines is the continent's largest airline in terms of passengers carried, and it is also the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of nations served.
4. Cape Town International Airport (South Africa)
Cape Town International Airport is South Africa's second busiest airport and Africa's fourth busiest. It is currently Africa's best airport, with world-class amenities like an automated baggage processing system that can handle 30,000 bags per hour. Direct flights to major travel destinations in Africa, the United States, and Asia are available. Cape town is also one of Africa's most popular tourist destinations, attracting people from all over the world.
5. Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca (Morocco)
At number five, we have Casablanca's Mohamed V airport, which is Morocco's busiest, with over 10 million people traveling through it each year. There are 76 planned voyager trips from the airport. The airport is busy because Casablanca is Morocco's most populous and influential city and a point of departure and arrival for Moroccans traveling to and from Europe. The airport also serves as the primary hub for the popular Royal Air Maroc airline, which flies the Moroccan flag.
6. Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Nigeria)
Murtala Muhammed International Airport is Africa's sixth busiest airport and Nigeria's busiest, with 78 scheduled explorer excursions. During World War II, this airport was erected and named after Murtala Muhammed, a Nigerian military dictator who ruled during the conflict. It services both domestic and international flights and is located in the Lagos district of Ikeja. Two terminal buildings are located at the airport, which has two asphalt-paved runways and is located at an elevation of 135 feet above mean sea level.
7. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Kenya)
Jomo Kenyatta International airport is Kenya's busiest airport and Africa's seventh busiest. The airport has scheduled flights to more than 50 different countries. More than 7 million passengers pass through the airport each year on average.
The airport was named after Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, in 1978. According to the airport's booking system, 57 exploration expeditions are scheduled each week, making it Africa's 10th busiest airport.
8. Dar es Salaam International Airport (Tanzania)
Dar Es Salaam International Airport (DAR) is Tanzania's busiest airport and the continent's eighth busiest. The airport handles more than 6.5 million passengers every year and connects Tanzania to international destinations in Europe, Asia, and North America.
9. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Nigeria)
After Murtala Muhammed Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is Nigeria's second busiest airport. The airport has a total of 59 planned voyager excursions, making it Africa's ninth busiest airport. On average, the airport handles more than 6 million passengers every year.
10. Hurghada International Airport (Egypt)
Hurghada International Airport is the last on our list. It is the second busiest airport in Egypt and the tenth in Africa, serving more than 5.5 million passengers every year. Hurghada Airport is located 5 kilometers southwest of El Dahar and currently has only one terminal. The airport connects Egypt to international destinations in Europe, North America, and Asia.