Airports have long been vital hubs of economic activity, facilitating the movement of people and goods across the globe. Over time, some airports have become busier than others driven by various factors such as geographical location, economic development, tourism, and connectivity.
In Africa, the aviation industry has been experiencing significant growth, driven by several factors. Economic development, increased foreign investment, rising middle-class incomes, and tourism have all contributed to the expansion of air travel across the continent.
However the growth amongst countries is not uniform, and some airports have become busier than others due to specific local advantages.
For instance, countries with stable political environments, strong economic policies, and significant tourism appeal tend to see higher traffic volumes. Also, strategic investments in airport infrastructure and national carriers can propel an airport into becoming a regional hub.
A recent report by FlightsFrom.com, a travel tool website that publishes airline routes and schedules worldwide, reveals the busiest airports in Africa based on the number of scheduled daily departures.
This metric, focusing on the volume of flights rather than passenger numbers, provides a unique perspective on airport activity. The report accounted only for scheduled passenger flights, excluding freighters or chartered flights, to give a clear picture of regular airline operations.
According to the report, Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa is the busiest airport in Africa, handling 251 daily flights. It is followed by Cairo International Airport in Egypt with 243 daily flights and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia with 194 daily flights.
Below are the top 10 busiest airports in Africa:
| Rank | Country | Country | No of daily flights |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Johannesburg International Airport |
South Africa |
251 |
|
2 |
Cairo International Airport |
Egypt |
243 |
|
3 |
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport |
Ethiopia |
194 |
|
4 |
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi |
Kenya |
123 |
|
5 |
Mohammed V International Airport |
Morocco |
104 |
|
6 |
Cape Town International Airport |
South Africa |
103 |
|
7 |
Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos |
Nigeria |
101 |
|
8 |
Houari Boumediene Airport Algier |
Algeria |
100 |
|
9 |
Tunis–Carthage International Airport |
Tunisia |
83 |
|
10 |
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport |
Nigeria |
79 |
