The aviation industry in Africa has grown substantially over recent years, and the continent is now home to several airports that process in excess of ten million passengers per year. Using data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, what are the ten busiest airports in Africa by the average number of weekly departures in February 2025?
10
Dar es Salaam (DAR)
519 flights
In February 2025, Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) will see an average of 519 departures each week. The airport is a hub for Tanzania’s flag carrier, Air Tanzania, as well as the regional airline Precision Air. Among the international destinations served by Air Tanzania are:
Dubai (DXB)
Guangzhou (CAN)
Johannesburg (JNB)
Mumbai (BOM).
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Photo: fokke baarssen | Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Precision Air operates an extensive domestic and regional network with its fleet of
eight ATR aircraft – three ATR 42-500s, one ATR 42-600, and five ATR 72-500s. Julius Nyerere International Airport’s operations are split over three terminals, the newest of which (Terminal 3) opened in 2019. Terminal 1 currently handles only private and charter flights, while Terminal 2 is currently closed for renovation works, which are expected to be completed by mid-2025.
9
Abuja (ABV)
536 flights
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV) in Abuja, Nigeria, was the ninth-busiest airport in Africa by the number of average weekly flights in February 2025. The airport will see an average of 536 weekly departures.
Photo: Embraer
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport sees services to destinations across Africa, as well as to a number of major European hubs, including London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), and Frankfurt (FRA). The airport was previously connected to Dubai (DXB) by both Air Peace and Emirates, however services are currently suspended due to an ongoing disagreement between Nigeria and the UAE.
8
Lagos (LOS)
735 flights
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos, Nigeria, is the busiest airport in Nigeria and the eighth-busiest overall in Africa, measured by the average number of weekly departures in February 2025, with an average of 735 weekly departures.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The airport is the primary hub of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace. From Lagos, the carrier flies to domestic destinations across the country, and also operates a number of international routes, including to London Gatwick (LGW), Dakar (DSS), and Johannesburg (JNB). Murtala Muhammed International Airport also has three transatlantic routes to the following destinations:
Atlanta (ATL) – Delta Air Lines
New York (JFK) – Delta Air Lines
Washington, DC (IAD) – United Airlines.
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7
Casablanca (CMN)
739 flights
With an average of 739 weekly departures in February 2025, Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) is the seventh-busiest airport in Africa. The airport is home to the Moroccan flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc, which operates an extensive route network across Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
The airline’s destinations include:
Beijing Daxing (PKX)
Frankfurt (FRA)
Istanbul (IST)
Manchester (MAN)
Miami (MIA)
Montreal (YUL)
New York (JFK)
São Paulo (GRU).
Mohammed V International Airport is also a hub for Air Arabia Maroc, the Moroccan subsidiary of the low-cost carrier Air Arabia, which offers services to a variety of European destinations.
6
Algiers (ALG)
741 flights
Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG) in Algiers, Algeria, will see an average of 741 weekly departures in February 2025. The facility is home to Air Algérie, which flies to destinations across Europe and North and West Africa, as well as a number of long-haul routes to the likes of Montreal (YUL), Beijing (PEK), Johannesburg (JNB), and Dubai (DXB). The latest data from ch-aviation shows that the carrier currently operates a fleet of 55 passenger aircraft, made up of the following:
Airbus A330-200 x 8
ATR 72-500 x 12
ATR 72-600 x 3
Boeing 737-600 x 5
Boeing 737-700 x 2
Boeing 737-800 x 25
Air Algérie is currently modernizing its fleet, replacing its aging aircraft with more modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A330neos and Boeing 737 MAX 9s, which are expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2027, respectively.
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5
Cape Town (CPT)
778 flights
With an average of 778 weekly departures in February 2025, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is the second-busiest airport in South Africa and the fifth-busiest in Africa. The airport sees more than ten million passengers annually and has an extensive domestic, regional, and long-haul route network.
Photo: Soos Jozsef | Shutterstock
South African Airways recently resumed the airport’s link to South America by operating flights to São Paulo (GRU). The airport is also connected to three airports in the US – Delta Air Lines flies to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and United Airlines serves both Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
4
Nairobi (NBO)
848 flights
The fourth-busiest airport in Africa by the number of weekly departures in February 2025 is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya. The airport will see an average of 848 flights per week throughout the month.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Kenya’s flag carrier, Kenya Airways, has its primary hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, serving most major cities across Africa, as well as some long-haul services to the following destinations:
Amsterdam (AMS)
Bangkok (BKK)
Guangzhou (CAN)
London Heathrow (LHR)
New York (JFK)
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG).
AirAsia X recently commenced services between Nairobi and the long-haul low-cost carrier’s hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), deploying its Airbus A330-300s on the route. Each of AirAsia X’s A330-300s can carry up to a maximum of 377 passengers, depending on the configuration.
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3
Addis Ababa (ADD)
1,377 flights
Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport (ADD) is the third-busiest airport in Africa, with an average of 1,377 weekly departures in February 2025.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The airport is the home of Ethiopian Airlines. The Star Alliance carrier’s extensive route network covers Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and South America. Among the carrier’s longest routes from Addis Ababa are:
Buenos Aires (EZE)
Chicago (ORD)
New York (JFK)
São Paulo (GRU)
Seoul Incheon (ICN)
Tokyo Narita (NRT).
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2
Johannesburg (JNB)
1,757 flights
Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) sees more than 17 million passengers per year. With an average of 1,757 weekly departures in February 2025, the airport is the second-busiest in Africa.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
Although O. R. Tambo International Airport is the home of South African Airways, the carrier now operates a much-reduced route network compared to before the pandemic. Among the Star Alliance member’s limited international routes are:
Dar es Salaam (DAR)
Mauritius (MRU)
São Paulo (GRU).
O. R. Tambo International Airport is also the primary hub of Airlink, with the regional carrier connecting Johannesburg with destinations across South Africa and the Southern Africa region with its fleet of 67 Embraer aircraft.
1
Cairo (CAI)
1,860 flights
The busiest airport in Africa by the average number of weekly departures in February 2025 is Cairo International Airport (CAI) in Egypt. The airport is the hub of several airlines, including:
Egyptair
Air Cairo
Air Arabia Egypt
Nile Air.
Cairo International Airport dates back to 1963, and has since expanded to include three terminals. Egyptair and its fellow Star Alliance members all operate from Terminal 3, allowing for seamless connections between flights.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Egyptair operates an extensive route network from its Cairo hub, from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in the west to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) in the east. The carrier currently has a fleet of 68 passenger aircraft, including:
Airbus A320neo x 8
Airbus A321neo x 7
Airbus A330-200 x 4
Airbus A330-300 x 4
Boeing 737-800 x 29
Boeing 777-300ER x 6
Boeing 787-9 x 8.
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The ten busiest airports in Africa by average number of weekly departures in February are summarized in the table below:
Airport
Country
Number of flights
Dar es Salaam (DAR)
Tanzania
519
Abuja (ABV)
Nigeria
536
Lagos (LOS)
Nigeria
735
Casablanca (CMN)
Morocco
739
Algiers (ALG)
Algeria
741
Cape Town (CPT)
South Africa
778
Nairobi (NBO)
Kenya
848
Addis Ababa (ADD)
Ethiopia
1,377
Johannesburg (JNB)
South Africa
1,757
Cairo (CAI)
Egypt
1,860
