Africa’s Busiest Airports
Africans love to travel. They travel abroad, within their own countries, and to other countries within Africa. Whatever your itinerary has in store, African airports will be there to accommodate your travel. I can’t promise you that your journey to some of these airports will be stress-free and without hassles, but nonetheless, you will have a unique and interesting experience. Air travel in Africa is booming, and the continent’s busiest airports are seeing record passenger numbers.
Here is a look at the 10 busiest airports in Africa in 2022:
| Rank | Airport | Country | Passenger Traffic (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairo International Airport | Egypt | 20,009,439 |
| 2 | O.R. Tambo International Airport | South Africa | 14,729,714 |
| 3 | Cape Town International Airport | South Africa | 7,831,759 |
| 4 | Mohammed V International Airport | Morocco | 7,604,747 |
| 5 | Addis Ababa Bole International Airport | Ethiopia | 6,700,000 |
| 6 | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport | Kenya | 6,600,000 |
| 7 | Murtala Muhammed International Airport | Nigeria | 6,500,000 |
| 8 | Houari Boumediene International Airport | Algeria | 6,300,000 |
| 9 | Dar es Salaam International Airport | Tanzania | 5,900,000 |
| 10 | Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport | Tunisia | 5,800,000 |
These airports all play an important role in the economies of their respective countries, generating jobs and stimulating economic growth. They are also major hubs for air travel in Africa, connecting the continent to destinations around the world.
Here are some interesting facts about Africa’s busiest airports:
- Cairo International Airport is the oldest airport in Africa, having opened in 1922.
- O. R. Tambo International Airport is the largest airport in Africa, with a total area of over 1,500 hectares.
- Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is the busiest airport in Africa for cargo traffic.
- Cape Town International Airport was named the best airport in Africa in 2019 by Skytrax.
Africa’s air travel industry is growing rapidly, and the continent’s busiest airports are expected to see even more passenger numbers in the years to come. This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the continent’s economic growth, the expansion of low-cost airlines, and the development of new infrastructure.
Many African airports and airlines have major struggles with maintenance and upkeep. This is seen by long delays and a lack of trained mechanics and pilots. Some international airlines are even reluctant to fly to certain African countries because of inherent issues and challenges.
As the world shrinks, and Africans are getting more dispoable income for travel, we can expect that the airline industry in Africa will continue to grow. Modern airports are being built and others are expanding their footprints. This will help connect Africans to other countries around the world and within the mother continent.
