Top 10 largest airports in Africa

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]frica has been made major strides in developing airports of international calibre as the continent angles itself to attract global investment and spur economic growth. Here are the top largest airports in Africa:

1. Oliver Tambo International Airport

Founded in 1952, O.R. Tambo International Airport is Africa’s biggest and busiest airport, facilitating over 21 million passengers a year. More than 50 percent of South Africa’s air travelling passengers are facilitated through the airport.​ The airport is named as a tribute to one of South Africa’s most important founding fathers; Oliver Reginald Tambo,

2. Cairo International Airport

is the international airport of Cairo and the busiest airport in Egypt and serves as the primary hub for EgyptAir, EgyptAir Express and Nile Air as well as several other airlines. The airport is located in Heliopolis, to the northeast of the Cairo around 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the business area of the city and has an area of approximately 37 square kilometres (14 sq mi). It is the second busiest airport in Africa after OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

3.Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town International Airport, is the main international gateway of Cape Town in South Africa and surroundings.Is the second busiest airport in the country and the third one in Africa.
Located approximately 12 miles (20 km) from the city centre of Cape Town, CPT airport operates with international and domestic flights. Is the only airport in the Cape Town metropolitan area that offers scheduled passenger services.

4.King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa

King Shaka International Airport opened in May 2010. This world class facility offers a host of features to make your traveling experience as comfortable and pleasurable as possible. Shops and restaurants, a bank and post office are just a few additional features King Shaka International Airport has to offer. King Shaka International is said to be three times bigger than Durban International airport and have five times as many shops.

5.Sharm El-Sheikh international airport

The Sharm El-Sheikh international airport is considered to be the second (after Cairo) major airport in Egypt. The airport has approximately 10 million passenger traffic yearly. The airport is located in the heart of the resort area just near the Red Sea coast.

6.Hurghada International Airport

Sprawled 5km southwest of El Dahar, Hurghada Airport, the sixth on the log is currently served by one terminal. But plans are already in top gear to make it a cynosure of all eyes while passengers will have access to a wide variety of stores, duty-free boutiques and restaurants.

7. Mohammed V International Airport

It is an international airportserving Casablanca, Morocco. Located in Nouaceur Province, it is operated by ONDA (National Airports Office). With just under 8 million passengers passing through the airport in 2014, it was the busiest airport in Morocco and the fourth busiest in Africa.

8. Murtala Mohammed International Airport

Is an international airport located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the entire state. The airport was initially built during World War II and is named after Murtala Muhammed, the fourth military ruler of Nigeria.Originally known as Lagos International Airport, it was renamed in the mid 1970s, during construction of the new international terminal, after a former Nigerian military head of state Murtala Muhammed.

9. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

JKIA Is an international airport in Nairobi, the capital of and largest city in Kenya. Located in the Embakasi suburb 15 kilometres (9 mi) southeast of Nairobi’s central business district, the airport has scheduled flights to destinations in over 50 countries.Originally named Embakasi Airport, the airport’s name was changed in 1978 to honor Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president and prime minister. The airport served over 7 million passengers in 2016,making it the seventh busiest airport in passenger traffic on the continent.

10.Port Elizabeth International Airport

Known as the ‘ten minute airport’, Port Elizabeth Airport is situated within five minutes drive from the central business district and the beach front and no more than ten minutes from other areas of importance in the city.