In summary
Cairo International Airport leads the continent with 18.7 million passengers, based on the latest available records. Egypt stands out as the only country with three airports in the top 10 – Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are all driven by strong tourism and infrastructure. In particular, five major African regions, north, west, east, central and south, are all represented by rankings, signaling balanced aviation development across the continent.
Deep diving!
What do Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa all have in common in 2025? Their airport is the heartbeat of a fast moving continent.
The African aviation sector has not only recovered from the global turmoil of the past few years, but is evolving at full speed. While the government continues to invest in airport infrastructure and local connectivity, more people are flying for work, tourism, education and migration. result? A sharp rise in passenger traffic across the continent. From the number of passengers in Cairo's sky to the tourist-driven growth of Cape Town, these airports are now playing a central role in connecting Africa to other parts of the world. Based on the latest passenger figures from the airport authorities and ACI report, let's take a look at the 10 busiest airports in Africa entering 2025.
10. Houariboumediene Airport (Algiers, Algeria)
Algeria's Houari Boumediene airport handles over 7 million passengers and has made it the 10th busiest in Africa. It serves as the country's leading international gateway and is the main hub of Air Algery. The strategic location of North Africa has become an important link between Africa and Europe with strong passenger traffic from France, Spain and Italy. The airport recently upgraded its facilities, including the addition of a modern terminal designed to handle up to 10 million passengers a year. This points to Algeria's ambition to become a more competitive player in African aviation.
9. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi, Kenya)
Nairobi's Jomokenyatta International Airport recorded 7.84 million passengers and has been placed as East Africa's busiest and most important hub. It serves as a main entry point to Kenya and supports tourism, trade and business travel throughout the region. Nairobi's geographical location is a convenient transport outage between Africa, Asia and Europe. The airport also handles considerable freight traffic, is home to Kenya Airlines, connecting the city to dozens of destinations worldwide. The expansion plan is ongoing and aims to improve capacity and modernize terminal operations.
8. Mohammed V International Airport (Casablanca, Morocco)
With 8.68 million passengers, Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca is one of the busiest in Morocco and one of the most prominent in North Africa. It serves as a strategic hub for the royal Maroc and is renowned for its extensive network that connects West Africa with Europe and America. Airports play an important role in connecting French-speaking African countries to major global markets. It is also one of the few African airports with direct flights to destinations such as Canada and Brazil. The Casablanca airport helped to increase the influence of Morocco's region in aviation.
7. Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos, Nigeria)
Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport has served 8.24 million passengers and has become West Africa's busiest airport. It serves as Nigeria's leading international gateway and plays a central role in connecting West African travelers to Europe, the Middle East and other parts of Africa. Lagos Airport handles more than two-thirds of Nigeria's international passenger traffic and remains an important link for business and immigrant travel. Despite years of infrastructure challenges, airports continue to grow steadily with upgrades and private investment aimed at modernizing terminals and operations.
6. Cape Town International Airport (Cape Town, South Africa)
Cape Town International Airport has surpassed 10 million passengers in fiscal year 2023/2024, indicating a strong post-pandemic recovery. As South Africa's second busiest airport, it is a major destination for both international and domestic tourists. Its popularity is heavily linked to the booming tourism industry in the Western Cape, with strong seasonal traffic from Europe and the United States. The airport is consistently internationally recognized for its quality of service and cleanliness, and has received an award for being one of the best airports in Africa. Cape Town's success reflects the strength and efficient airport management of the tourism sector in South Africa.
5. Addis Ababa Ball International Airport (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport welcomed 12.1 million passengers and maintained its position among Africa's most important aviation hubs. Located near the heart of the continent, it is the main foundation of Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa's largest and fastest growing airlines. Bole Airport has developed into a key transport system between Africa, the Middle East and Asia, particularly to connect planes. The long-standing expansion includes new terminals and improved logistics, allowing more passengers and international cargo to be processed. Addis Ababa's role as diplomatic capital further enhances its importance in air travel.
4. Or Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Or, Johannesburg's Tambo International Airport has handled 12.7 million passengers and has become the busiest airport in southern Africa. For a long time, it has been Africa's most developed aviation hub and has been one of the few on a continent with direct flights to all-inhabited continents. The airport supports both business and tourism with a large number of domestic and international flights. Or, Tambo is South Africa's main cargo hub and a key connector for long distance routes. Its ongoing relevance illustrate the strength of South Africa's air transport infrastructure and international partnerships.
3. Hurghada International Airport (Hurghada, Egypt)
Hurghada International Airport served as 12.35 million passengers, driven primarily by European tourism to Egypt's Red Sea resorts. Airports are an important gateway for charter and seasonal flights, particularly from countries such as Germany, Russia and the UK. It benefits from consistent upgrades and tourism-friendly policies that have become one of Egypt's fastest-growing air hubs. Hilgada's popularity among foreign tourists keeps its numbers high despite operating point-to-point leisure traffic, primarily not complex hub operations.
2. Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt)
With 13.15 million passengers, Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport ranks second in Africa for passenger traffic. Located on the Sinai Peninsula, the airport is the heart of Egypt's tourist economy, particularly for package holidays and seasonal travelers from Europe. The airport saw significant infrastructure investments, particularly at major events such as the COP27 Climate Summit. Sharm El-Sheikh has grown into a major international destination known for its sunny climate, diving resorts and streamlined tourism processing.
1. Cairo International Airport (Egypt, Cairo)
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Africa with 18.7 million passengers at the top of the list. It serves as Egypt's main gateway and is a central hub for both domestic and international travel. With its three major terminals and extensive flight connections to the Middle East, Europe, Asia and other African countries, Cairo is an important link in global air transport. Its role was strengthened by domestic airlines and ongoing airport investments. Cairo passenger growth reflects Egypt's broader economic revival, increased tourism and increased regional influence.
