At a Glance
- Africa’s largest airports connect major economies to global trade, tourism, and investment flows.
- Passenger traffic rebounds as governments invest heavily in airport expansion and aviation infrastructure.
- Top hubs benefit from state airlines, private capital, and rising intra-African business travel.
Africa’s aviation sector is undergoing a steady transformation, anchored by a handful of high-capacity airports that serve as gateways for capital, commerce, and global mobility.
While the continent still accounts for less than 3 percent of global air traffic, its busiest airports play an outsized role in connecting Africa’s largest economies to international markets, investors, and tourists.
These airports are not just transport hubs; they are economic assets. From Johannesburg and Cairo to Addis Ababa and Lagos, Africa’s biggest airports support airlines, logistics firms, tourism operators, and export-driven industries.
Many are closely tied to state-backed carriers, sovereign infrastructure plans, and private capital investments that shape national growth strategies.
These aviation hubs support state-backed airlines, logistics firms, tourism operators, and export-driven industries.
As passenger volumes rebound post-pandemic, governments are investing billions in terminal expansions, runway upgrades, and cargo infrastructure to strengthen connectivity and economic resilience.
Shore Africa has chronicled the 10 biggest airports in Africa by passenger traffic, ranked by annual throughput and economic significance.
1. O.R. Tambo International Airport
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Africa’s busiest airport, handling over 20 million passengers yearly. It is the primary hub for South African Airways and a critical gateway linking Africa’s most industrialized economy to global markets. Currently, Africa’s largest and busiest airport by passenger traffic, however, Ethiopia has just started building Bishoftu International Airport (BIA) near Addis Ababa, set to become Africa’s largest aviation project, with completion targeted for 2030 to handle 110 million passengers annually.
2. Cairo International Airport
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Serving about 17 million passengers annually, Cairo International is North Africa’s largest aviation hub, connecting Africa to Europe, the Gulf, and Asia through Egypt’s capital and largest economy.
3. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Handling over 12 million passengers yearly, Bole is the backbone of Ethiopian Airlines’ global network and one of Africa’s fastest-growing transit hubs.
4. Cape Town International Airport
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
With more than 11 million passengers annually, this award-winning airport supports South Africa’s tourism economy and serves as a premium gateway to the Western Cape.
5. Mohammed V International Airport
Location: Casablanca, Morocco
Processing over 10 million passengers yearly, it is Royal Air Maroc’s hub and Morocco’s main international gateway linking Africa with Europe and the Americas.
6. Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Handling nearly 8 million passengers annually, Lagos is West Africa’s busiest airport and a vital hub for Nigeria’s commercial capital and largest consumer market.
7. Hurghada International Airport
Location: Hurghada, Egypt
Serving over 7 million passengers yearly, this airport is central to Egypt’s Red Sea tourism industry, driving foreign currency inflows and resort development.
8. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
With over 6 million passengers annually, JKIA is East Africa’s main transit hub and a key driver of Kenya’s trade, tourism, and logistics sectors.
9. Houari Boumédiene Airport
Location: Algiers, Algeria
Handling more than 5 million passengers yearly, it anchors Algeria’s international connectivity and supports trade flows in North Africa’s largest country by landmass.
10. King Shaka International Airport
Location: Durban, South Africa
Serving over 5 million passengers annually, King Shaka supports KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism, manufacturing exports, and regional business travel.
