Enjoy Your Flight in These 8 Best Airports in Africa

The best airports in Africa are a testament that the continent is a magnet for international travellers.

African countries spend millions of dollars annually building new airports and renovating the old ones. Each country wants to have the best to offer visitors a perfect first impression.

They provide travellers with banking and exchange services, internet facilities, seats and above all, cafes and restaurants. Their customer service is also worthwhile.

Ideally, these airports receive millions of passengers every year which underlines the need to have them in their best form. Here they are the best airports in Africa.

Which Country in Africa Have the Best Airport?

South Africa has one of the best airports in Africa – Cape Town International Airport.

Cape Town International Airport

The Cape Town International Airport is undoubtedly the best of the best and is also one of the busiest airports on the continent.

It has domestic and international terminals linked by one terminal. The airport has direct links to major travel destinations around the world, such as the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

This South African airport has several quality accommodations nearby. The Hotel Verde and Road Lodge are the top-rated accommodations close to the airport. Taxis, shuttles and buses are available outside the airport to take passengers to their preferred accommodations. The airport holds the prestige of the best airport in Africa 2020.

Other top-ranking airports in Africa include:

King Shaka International Airport

The King Shaka International Airport is located 35 kilometres away from the north of Durban. It is the second-best airport in Africa. The airport, which is a replacement of Durban International Airport (decommissioned in 2010), serves Durban City.

It’s three times bigger than the original Durban International Airport.  It has world-class facilities with the KZN Tourism information centre, which guides the passengers travelling to Durban.

The airport offers jewellery, African arts, clothing and footwear, and duty-free shopping in the terminal buildings.

Johannesburg Airport

Johannesburg Airport is also known as the O.R Tambo International Airport. The airport established in 1952, was originally known as Jan Smuts International Airport.

Apart from being one of the best, Johannesburg Airport is one of the busiest and biggest airports in Africa. It facilities approximately 19 million passengers annually. Johannesburg Airport also facilitates more than 50% of the air travel in South Africa.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport

Sir Seewoosagur is the main international airport in Mauritius. It is one of the best and also among the oldest airports in Africa – commissioned after the end of World War Two in 1945. The airport is located 48 kilometres southeast of Port Louis.

It is one of Africa’s most modern airports playing a huge role in the Mauritian economy.

Marrakesh Menara Airport

Marrakesh Menara is the main international airport in Morocco. It’s been there since 1940s. It served as a hub for the US military.

The airport’s texture is a mixture of traditional and modern elements. It has two passenger terminals and offers services such as ATMs, currency exchange, an airport clinic and free Wi-Fi connections.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is among the best airports in Africa. It first opened its doors in 1962, and is Ethiopia’s most important and busiest international airport. It took the place of the military airport Lidetta which was decommissioned.

Kigali International Airport

The airport’s first projection was holding 400 000 passengers each year. But 2013 saw over 600,000 local and foreign passengers prompting the government to embark on an expansion plan of passenger terminals.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is undoubtedly among the best airports in Africa. It came out on top in the competition for the 2021 Best Airport by Size and Region.

JKIA pre-covid welcomed 5.8 million travelers every year. The number fell to 1.8 million passengers in 2021 as the travel industry recovers from the effects of Covid -19.

Which is the Biggest and Busiest Airport in Africa?

Oliver R. Tambo International Airport is the biggest airport in Africa. It is also one of the busiest airports in Africa. 

The airport serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travels in South Africa. O.R. Tambo has the capacity to handle more than 27 million passengers. In 2017, the airport reportedly handled 21 million passengers.

The airport located in Johannesburg covers a total area of 16,730,000 square meters.

Which is the Most Beautiful Airport in Africa? 

Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport is South Africa is magnificent. It has 40 check-in counters and can handle up to five million passengers yearly.

The airport, which tops the list of most outstanding airports in Africa, costs approximately US$350 million.