Airports In Africa: A Comprehensive Overview

Africa is home to a number of busy airports, with South Africa boasting the most in the continent at 407 as of 2020. Mohammed V International Airport in Morocco is one of the busiest airports in Africa, serving more than 10 million passengers in 2019.

South Africa has the most airports in Africa

South Africa has an advanced air traffic infrastructure that has grown steadily in recent decades. This is due to increasing economic relations and flourishing tourism. Most of the largest airports are owned by the Airports Company of South Africa, with the exception of Lanseria International Airport, which is privately owned. Most other public airports are owned by local municipalities, although there are also a significant number of privately owned airports. Some South African Air Force bases share the airfields of public airports, for example, part of the Air Force Base Hoedspruit has been leased to a private company as a public airport.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has the second-most airports

Another major airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo is Bangoka International Airport, which serves Kisangani, the country's third-largest city. This airport is also known as Kinshasa International Airport and is named after the nearby Ndjili River. It is a hub for several airlines, including Wimbi Dira Airways, FlyCongo, and Compagnie Africaine d’Aviation.

Kenya has the third-most airports

Kenya's airports serve as major transportation hubs, with the second busiest airport in the country acting as a significant connection point. The country has 15 domestic and international airports, with two terminals each. Terminal 1 is used for both domestic and international arrivals and departures, while Terminal 2 caters to low-cost carriers.

One of the domestic airports in Kenya is located 5.4 km away from Diani Beach and started operating in 2013. Airlines such as Safarilink Aviation, Jambojet Limited, Skyward Express, Fly540, and Mombasa Air Safari operate from this airport.

With its numerous airports, Kenya facilitates convenient travel within the country and connects it to the rest of the world. The aviation infrastructure plays a vital role in supporting the country's tourism, business, and economic activities.

Mohammed V International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Africa

There are many airports in Africa, but Mohammed V International Airport is one of the busiest. It is the main international airport serving Casablanca, Morocco, and is named after King Mohammed V of Morocco, who led the country's push for independence from French and Spanish colonial rule. It is also known as Casablanca Airport and is located in Nouaceur Province. The airport is a hub for Royal Air Maroc, Royal Air Maroc Express and Air Arabia Maroc, and it mainly facilitates flights around Africa and Europe, as well as some flights to destinations in North America, South America and parts of Asia.

Mohammed V International Airport is Morocco's busiest airport and one of the key air transport hubs for North Africa. In 2022, it was ranked the fourth busiest airport in Africa, with about 7.6 million passengers passing through the airport. This was a recovery to 74% of the total pre-pandemic numbers of 2019. The airport serves Morocco's most populous city, Casablanca, and is easily accessible from the city centre via the A7 motorway towards Marrakech, or the N9 route towards Settat.

The Al Bidaoui train service, operated by ONCF from 04:00 to 23:00, is available every hour and connects the airport to Casablanca's two main railway stations, Casa-Port Railway Terminal and Casa-Voyageurs Railway Station. Tourist information is available in Arrivals, and airport information desks are located in Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

Mohammed V International Airport was built as an airfield during World War II for the US government in 1943. Since Moroccan independence in 1956, the airport has been fully owned by the Moroccan civil government.

Airports in Africa can be confusing to navigate

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is another example of a confusing airport in Africa. Lee Abbamonte, the youngest American to visit every country in the world, describes it as a "madhouse", with hundreds of people approaching travellers and a lot of it being a "shakedown". Pickpockets, poor sanitation, and a hot climate add to the concerns of weary travellers.

Some airports in Africa also have confusing layouts. O. R. Tambo International Airport, for example, has six terminals, and it can be a challenge to navigate the entire airport. Similarly, N'dijili International Airport in the DRC is described as a "chaotic terminal" that is confusing to travellers.

Ground transportation options can also add to the confusion of navigating African airports. While taxis are readily available at most airports, there may be scammers to watch out for, and public transportation options are not always available. For example, at Mohammed V International Airport, both private and shared taxis are available 24 hours a day, and a local bus service stops just outside the airport. At O. R. Tambo International Airport, there is a bus option for public transportation, but it is not as convenient as the taxi option.

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