10 best airports in Africa in 2024

When it comes to air travel, having a seamless experience at the airport can make a difference in your trip. In Africa, some airports stand out for their exceptional facilities, services, and overall passenger experience.

Skytrax, an internationally recognized organization that assesses airlines worldwide, recently unveiled its report on the best airports globally.

According to the report, in the regional space, Durban’s King Shaka Airport in South Africa ranks as the top airport in Africa.

For the awards process, a regional airport is one that predominantly serves domestic or regional international flights. It may also serve a small number of intercontinental routes, but the primary focus is on the short-haul and regional markets.

Below are 10 best international airports in Africa in 2024:

King Shaka International Airport stands as a beacon of excellence among Africa’s best international airports. With a total floor area of 102,000 m2 (1,100,000 sq ft), the terminal is capable of handling 7.5 million passengers per year.

Marrakech International Airport, located in Morocco, serves as a gateway to one of the country’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities. The air terminals (1 and 2) are 22,000 m2 (236,806 sq ft) and designed to handle 2,500,000 passengers per year.

Kigali International Airport, formerly known as Gregoire Kayibanda International Airport boasts modern facilities and infrastructure, including a single terminal equipped to handle various aircraft sizes.

It is also of regional importance as it serves Congolese, Burundian and Ugandan cities. Its terminal building handles a capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year.

The Port Elizabeth airport was once called the H. F. Verwoerd Airport. It offers flights to and from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Durban, Cape Town and East London. The airport currently handles more than 1,2 million passengers per year, over 60 000 scheduled flights and over 800 tons of cargo.

Formerly known as Bloemfontein Airport, it was renamed Bram Fischer International Airport in 2012 by President Jacob Zuma. The airport offers a world-class airport operation that caters for more than 300 000 passengers and 17 000 air traffic movements per annum.

East London Airport (ELS) is a small, but busy airport serving the city of East London, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The airport handles between 20 and 30 flights daily, which bring 946,000 people to East London each year.

The British Colonial authorities opened the airport due to its strategic location on Lake Victoria. Entebbe International Airport sits directly on the equator at latitude 00.020 North and longitude 320 East, earning it the nickname “Airport on the Equator.”

Antananarivo Ivato International Airport has two main terminals: one terminal for domestic flights and one terminal for international flights. In December 2021, a new terminal opened. Antananarivo airport handled over 1 million passengers in 2019, first time in 20 years.

Rabat Airport, situated in Salé, Morocco, serves both as a civilian and military airport, catering to the needs of Rabat, the capital city, as well as the wider region.

Luanda International Airport, (IATA Airport Code: LAD) is the current international airport serving Angola’s capital city Luanda and the rest of Angola.