Lifestyle - August 25, 2025

The 10 Busiest Airports in Africa as of July 2025

Oluwadamilola Olanrewaju August 25, 2025

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Africa’s aviation industry is experiencing a strong comeback, with passenger traffic and flight activity surging across the continent.

According to recent data, African airlines recorded nearly double-digit growth in international passenger demand, making the region one of the fastest-growing in global aviation.

The Africa–Asia route in particular has seen a major spike, cementing Africa’s position as a growing hub for global air travel.

With more than 113 million passengers projected to pass through African airports this year, certain airports have emerged as the continent’s busiest. Below is a look at the top five, ranked by the average number of daily scheduled departures.

Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) – 249 flights daily

Johannesburg International Airport continues to hold on to its crown as Africa’s busiest airport. Sitting at the heart of South Africa’s economic capital, the airport handles about 249 scheduled departures each day, keeping it firmly ahead of other African hubs.

The airport’s dominance comes from its wide network, 77 destinations served by 42 airlines. It has long been the main entry point into Southern Africa and the base for South African Airways.

Despite a slight drop from its 2024 average of 251 flights per day, Johannesburg remains unmatched.

Its busiest corridor is the Johannesburg–Cape Town route, one of Africa’s most traveled air links, with nearly 289 weekly flights (about 16% of all its departures). Airlines like Airlink and Safair are among the biggest operators, with Airlink alone accounting for more than 600 departures weekly.

Other high-demand routes include:

Cape Town – 36 to 42 daily flights
Durban – 26 to 35 daily flights
Harare, Zimbabwe – 8 to 13 daily flights
Port Elizabeth – 9 to 10 daily flights
Gaborone, Botswana – 8 to 9 daily flights

These figures highlight JNB’s role as both a domestic lifeline and a critical international gateway.

Cairo International Airport (CAI) – 242 flights daily

Hot on Johannesburg’s heels is Cairo International Airport, which operates around 242 departures per day. Situated in Egypt’s capital, the airport is the country’s largest and Africa’s second busiest. It links travelers to 122 destinations through 57 different airlines.

Cairo serves as the central hub of EgyptAir, the flag carrier that dominates the airport’s activity. EgyptAir alone manages over 738 flights weekly, a massive lead compared to its competitors such as Air Cairo.

The airport’s busiest connection is to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a route that reflects the heavy religious and commercial travel between Egypt and the Middle East. On average, 233 flights head to Jeddah each week, accounting for about 13% of Cairo’s total traffic.

Other top routes include:

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 31 to 34 daily flights
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 21 to 25 daily flights
Kuwait City, Kuwait – 12 to 15 daily flights
Madinah, Saudi Arabia – 11 to 14 daily flights
Dammam, Saudi Arabia – 8 to 11 daily flights

Cairo International has maintained its position from 2024, showing remarkable consistency as one of Africa’s leading hubs for both regional and intercontinental travel.

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) – 190 flights daily

In third place is Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia’s primary international gateway and one of the continent’s most important aviation hubs. With an average of 190 flights per day, it remains a powerhouse in East Africa.

The airport connects passengers to 120 global destinations, largely driven by Ethiopian Airlines, which is not only the country’s national carrier but also Africa’s largest and most profitable airline.

Ethiopian Airlines operates an astonishing 1,376 weekly flights out of Addis Ababa, a figure that dwarfs other carriers at the airport.

Domestically, the busiest route is to Bahir Dar, averaging about 99 flights weekly, or 14–15 departures per day. Other frequently traveled routes include:

Mekele – about 9 flights daily
Dire Dawa – 7 to 8 daily flights
Jijiga – 6 to 8 daily flights
Combolcha – 6 daily flights

Internationally, Dubai (UAE) and Rome (Italy) stand out as the most popular destinations. While Addis Ababa’s daily traffic has dipped slightly compared to 2024’s 194 flights, it remains a vital hub for Africa-Asia and Africa-Europe connectivity.

Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) – 114 flights daily

Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport ranks fourth, handling 114 daily flights. As Morocco’s busiest airport, CMN plays a central role in connecting North Africa to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

The airport serves 107 destinations through 27 airlines. It has steadily grown from its 2024 record of 104 flights per day, reflecting Morocco’s rising influence in global aviation.

The busiest international link is to Paris-Orly (France), which accounts for about 41 weekly flights. Other high-frequency routes include:

Paris-Orly, France – 7 to 10 flights daily
Paris Charles De Gaulle, France – 7 to 8 daily flights
Marrakesh, Morocco – about 5 daily flights
Agadir, Morocco – 4 to 5 daily flights
Madrid, Spain – 3 to 5 daily flights

Royal Air Maroc is the clear leader at CMN, responsible for about 576 weekly departures, far ahead of other airlines like Air Arabia Maroc. This dominance underlines Casablanca’s importance as a regional transit hub between Africa and Europe.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) – 108 flights daily

Rounding out the top five is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. With an average of 108 flights each day, it has made a remarkable rise into Africa’s busiest ranks, especially considering it did not feature in the continent’s top 15 in 2024.

The airport connects to 64 destinations with 39 airlines, making it East Africa’s key hub for both domestic and international travel.

Its busiest corridor is the Nairobi–Mombasa route, which records about 105 flights per week, or roughly 13% of the airport’s weekly departures.

Leading carrier Kenya Airways operates over 310 scheduled departures each week, followed by its low-cost subsidiary Jambojet.

Other frequently used routes include:

Mombasa, Kenya – 13 to 17 flights daily
Kisumu, Kenya – 7 to 10 daily flights
Entebbe, Uganda – 5 to 7 daily flights
Zanzibar, Tanzania – 5 to 8 daily flights
Kigali, Rwanda – 5 to 6 daily flights

On the international side, destinations like Zanzibar and Entebbe stand out, showcasing the airport’s growing role in East African regional travel.

Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) – 102 flights daily

Sitting in the Algerian capital, Houari Boumediene Airport has established itself as the busiest gateway in the country and a major aviation hub in North Africa. As of July 2025, the airport is averaging 102 departures each day, an improvement from its 2024 record of 100.

The airport links travelers to 80 destinations worldwide, supported by 25 regional and international carriers. However, Air Algérie overshadows every other operator, commanding about 515 weekly flights nearly 12 times more than its nearest rival, Transavia France.

This dominance has solidified ALG’s role as both a domestic connector and a long-haul international hub.

One of its busiest routes is the Algiers–Paris Charles de Gaulle link, which alone accounts for about 69 weekly flights, or 9% of all departures. This strong demand highlights the enduring cultural, business, and diaspora ties between Algeria and France.

Other top routes include:

Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) – 11 to 14 flights daily
Paris Orly (France) – 8 to 10 daily flights
Istanbul (Turkey) – 7 to 8 daily flights
Oran, Algeria – 5 to 7 daily flights
Constantine, Algeria – 4 to 7 daily flights

With both European and domestic routes driving traffic, Houari Boumediene Airport remains a vital link between North Africa, Europe, and the wider world.

Cape Town International Airport (CPT) – 102 flights daily

Cape Town International Airport, South Africa’s second-largest, stands as one of the most scenic yet busiest gateways on the continent.

In July 2025, the airport recorded an average of 102 daily flights, slightly below last year’s 103, but still strong enough to maintain its position in Africa’s top tier.

CPT offers connections to 40 destinations via 27 airlines. Safair is the airport’s dominant carrier, with around 319 weekly departures, followed by Airlink, which has a strong domestic presence.

The Cape Town–Johannesburg route is the airport’s lifeline, averaging 37 to 43 daily flights, making it one of Africa’s busiest domestic connections. Other well-traveled routes include:

Johannesburg – 37 to 43 daily flights
Durban – 12 to 13 daily flights
Lanseria – 8 to 9 daily flights
George – 2 to 4 daily flights
Port Elizabeth – 2 to 4 daily flights

On the international front, Cape Town connects to destinations like Windhoek (Namibia) and London Heathrow (UK), highlighting its dual role as both a domestic hub and a long-haul tourism gateway.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) – 99 flights daily

Nigeria’s busiest airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, remains the beating heart of West Africa’s aviation. As of July 2025, it handles an average of 99 flights every day, a small dip from 2024’s 101 flights.

The airport serves 46 destinations through 34 airlines, making it Nigeria’s primary international and domestic hub. Its busiest corridor is the Lagos–Abuja route, which averages 203 flights per week, representing a massive 28% of all LOS departures.

Leading the pack is Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, with 132 weekly take-offs. Its dominance underscores the growing role of Nigerian airlines in regional connectivity.

Other busy routes from Lagos include:

Abuja – 21 to 28 daily flights
Port Harcourt – 9 to 11 daily flights
Accra, Ghana – 5 to 7 daily flights
Benin City – 3 to 7 daily flights
Kano – 3 to 5 daily flights

For international travelers, Accra (Ghana) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) are among the most frequently served routes, strengthening Lagos’ reputation as the gateway to West Africa.

Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) – 92 flights daily

Zanzibar International Airport, the main entry point into Tanzania’s famous archipelago, has rapidly climbed the ranks to become one of Africa’s top 10 busiest airports.

With an average of 92 daily departures in July 2025, it has seen remarkable growth compared to 2024, when it averaged just 70.

ZNZ connects travelers to 21 destinations, served by 27 different airlines. The most significant route is the Zanzibar–Dar es Salaam corridor, which alone records about 269 weekly flights, an incredible 43% of the airport’s total departures.

The leading carrier is Auric Air, with about 131 weekly flights, followed by several regional airlines connecting Zanzibar to East Africa and beyond.

Key routes from Zanzibar include:

Dar es Salaam – 34 to 39 daily flights
Arusha – 14 to 15 daily flights
Pemba – 8 to 9 daily flights
Nairobi, Kenya – 7 to 8 daily flights
Mombasa, Kenya – 1 to 6 daily flights (new airline starts December 2025)

With its booming tourism sector and growing regional importance, Zanzibar International is quickly emerging as one of East Africa’s busiest leisure gateways.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) – 84 flights daily

Formerly known simply as Dar es Salaam International, Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) remains Tanzania’s largest and one of East Africa’s most crucial airports. By July 2025, it was handling about 84 flights per day, up from 75 daily flights in 2024.

The airport connects passengers to 37 destinations through 24 airlines. Like Zanzibar, DAR’s traffic is heavily driven by short-haul regional travel. Its most frequent corridor is the Dar es Salaam–Zanzibar link, which sees about 180 weekly flights, nearly 30% of the airport’s total.

Air Tanzania is the dominant carrier here, with about 174 weekly departures, followed by Auric Air.

Other top routes include:

Zanzibar – 22 to 23 daily flights
Arusha – 6 to 8 daily flights
Kilimanjaro – 6 to 7 daily flights
Mwanza – 5 to 6 daily flights
Mafia Island – 5 daily flights

On the international side, DAR is well connected to Nairobi (Kenya) and Johannesburg (South Africa), reinforcing its role as a critical hub for business and tourism.