Addis Ababa Ranks Third Among Africa’s Busiest Airports, Bahir Dar Enters Top 50
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has been ranked the third-busiest airport in Africa by daily scheduled passenger departures, according to newly released data from FlightsFrom.com updated on June 7, 2026.
The ranking shows that Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) operates an average of 191 scheduled flights per day, placing it behind only Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport in South Africa and Cairo International Airport in Egypt.
Johannesburg topped the continental ranking with 240 daily flights, followed by Cairo with 216 flights, while Addis Ababa secured third place, highlighting Ethiopia’s growing importance as a major aviation hub connecting Africa with Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
The ranking underscores the continued expansion of Ethiopia’s aviation sector, driven largely by the growth of Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier by fleet size, destinations, and passenger network.
Addis Ababa’s strategic location has enabled the airport to serve as one of Africa’s leading transit gateways. The airport currently connects passengers to more than 145 international destinations through Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive network.
The latest figures place Addis Ababa ahead of several major African airports, including Cape Town (103 daily flights), Lagos (102), Casablanca (98), Nairobi (98), Dar es Salaam (86), Marrakech (84), and Abuja (83).
Industry observers note that Addis Ababa’s strong performance reflects the increasing role of Ethiopia in facilitating intra-African connectivity, trade, tourism, and business travel under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The FlightsFrom.com data also highlights the growing significance of Ethiopia’s regional aviation market.
Bahir Dar Airport (BJR) ranked 48th among Africa’s busiest airports, handling an average of 15 scheduled flights per day.
Its inclusion in the continent’s top 50 busiest airports demonstrates the expanding role of domestic air travel in Ethiopia and the importance of regional cities in supporting tourism, commerce, and government services.
Bahir Dar serves as a key gateway to major tourist attractions, including Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls, while also functioning as an important economic center in northwestern Ethiopia.
The ranking is based on scheduled passenger departures per day and excludes cargo flights and charter operations.
South Africa remains the continent’s most active aviation market, with Johannesburg occupying both the first position through O.R. Tambo International Airport and the 55th position through Lanseria Airport.
East Africa also featured prominently in the rankings, with Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Kampala, and Addis Ababa among the region’s leading aviation centers.
The latest data reflects the continued recovery and expansion of Africa’s aviation industry as airlines increase frequencies, open new routes, and respond to growing demand for both regional and international travel.
For Ethiopia, the ranking reinforces Addis Ababa’s status as one of Africa’s premier aviation gateways and highlights the country’s ambition to remain at the center of the continent’s air transport network.
