Africa’s aviation market is picking up pace as tourism rebounds, regional business travel expands, and governments invest in airport capacity. Using total passenger traffic in 2024 (arrivals, departures, and transit), the hubs below ranked among the continent’s busiest—and many also posted solid year-on-year growth.
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Top 10 busiest airports in Africa (2024)

1) Cairo International Airport (Egypt) — 28.97m passengers (+10.6%)

Cairo stayed Africa’s #1 gateway, benefiting from its geography linking Africa, Europe and the Middle East, plus strong tourism flows into Egypt.

2) O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg (South Africa) — 18.37m (+34.5%)

Johannesburg’s main hub recorded one of the biggest jumps in the top 10, underlining the rebound in Southern Africa’s long-haul and regional traffic.
3) Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (Ethiopia) — 11.80m (+13.6%)

Addis remains a major transit hub, supported by Ethiopian Airlines’ network that connects Africa with Europe and Asia through Addis Ababa.
4) Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca (Morocco) — 10.45m (+6.7%)

Casablanca is Morocco’s main hub and a key link for Africa–Europe and transatlantic flows. Morocco is also planning major airport capacity expansion ahead of the 2030 World Cup, backed by new financing for upgrades across several airports.
5) Cape Town International Airport (South Africa) — 10.37m (+6.8%)

Cape Town continued to benefit from steady international tourism demand and strong seasonal travel patterns into the Western Cape.
6) Hurghada International Airport (Egypt) — 9.64m (+9.6%)

Hurghada’s Red Sea resort traffic kept it among Africa’s top performers, reflecting leisure-heavy demand and peak-season surges.
7) Marrakech-Menara Airport (Morocco) — 9.25m (+34.0%)

Marrakech recorded one of the fastest growth rates in the top 10, driven by tourism momentum and improving connectivity into Morocco’s leisure markets.
8) Houari Boumediene Airport, Algiers (Algeria) — 9.15m (+15.0%)

Algiers strengthened its position as a key North African capital gateway with continued route growth and rising passenger volumes.
9) Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi (Kenya) — 8.75m (+6.6%)

Nairobi remains East Africa’s busiest hub, supporting safari tourism, business travel, and regional connectivity via Kenya’s capital.
10) Tunis–Carthage Airport (Tunisia) — 7.28m (+9.0%)

Tunis rounds out the top 10, supported by growing leisure demand and improving regional links across North Africa and Europe.

Extra context and takeaways

• North Africa dominates: Egypt and Morocco (plus Algeria and Tunisia) account for 6 of the top 10, showing how tourism and Europe-linked networks are shaping Africa’s passenger rankings.
• Biggest growth stories: O.R. Tambo and Marrakech posted the sharpest year-on-year rises among the top 10, signalling strong recovery and route rebuilds.
• Capacity race is accelerating: Morocco’s multi-year airport upgrade push ahead of 2030 is a sign that infrastructure spending is becoming a key competitive advantage for hubs chasing airlines and transfer traffic.

Al Alamein International Airport has recorded strong growth in passenger activity this year, with traveller numbers rising by 57% compared with the same period in 2025, as Egypt advances preparations for the second edition of the Egypt International Air Show (EIAS 2026) scheduled for September.

According to Egypt’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), the increase highlights the country's ongoing efforts to strengthen its civil aviation sector through infrastructure upgrades and expanded airport capacity aimed at meeting growing tourism, business and investment demand.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is continuing development projects at Al Alamein International Airport as part of a broader strategy to establish New Alamein City as a major hub for tourism, commerce and international events. The airport is being enhanced to manage higher passenger volumes and support the successful hosting of the upcoming aviation and aerospace exhibition.

EIAS 2026 is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, the Egyptian Air Force and the Egyptian Space Agency.

The IDSC said the event is expected to further elevate Egypt’s profile within the global aviation and aerospace sectors while encouraging investment, fostering strategic partnerships and facilitating the exchange of advanced technologies.

Official data showed that passenger traffic at Al Alamein International Airport reached 266,600 travellers in 2026, compared with 169,500 during the corresponding period of 2025. Aircraft movements also increased significantly, rising by approximately 26% to 3,190 flights from 2,540 flights a year earlier.

The airport currently hosts operations from 15 airlines, including Etihad Airways, flydubai, flynas, Air Cairo and Saudia. Its international network has expanded further during the 2026 summer season with the arrival of new carriers such as Romania’s TAROM, Poland’s Enter Air, Bulgaria’s BH Air and Gulf Air.

Authorities expect the number of airlines serving the airport to grow to 26 by the end of the summer season, reflecting rising international interest in Egypt’s North Coast and the growing importance of New Alamein as a destination for tourism, investment and major global events.

Source: Daily News Egypt

Abha International Airport has reached a new operational benchmark after processing more than 130 flights in a single day, setting a record for the highest daily traffic volume in the airport’s history.

The milestone was achieved on July 5, when the airport, managed by Cluster2 Airports, handled a total of 132 flights. The day's operations included 117 domestic services and 15 international flights.

According to Cluster2 Airports, the increase reflects strong travel demand during the summer season, supported by efficient airport operations and a rise in visitor arrivals. The operator noted that the Asir region’s seasonal events, scenic landscapes and cultural attractions have contributed significantly to growing passenger numbers.

The airport operator said the achievement aligns with the goals of the Aviation Programme under Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy. The initiative is focused on increasing airport capacity, improving passenger experience and raising operational efficiency across the Kingdom’s aviation network.

The latest record highlights the continued growth of air travel in southern Saudi Arabia as authorities work to strengthen the country's aviation infrastructure and tourism sector.

Source: TradeArabia

Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South has announced a major expansion by UUDS AERO, which has grown its operational footprint within the aviation hub to more than 180,000 square metres since launching its first facility there in 2022.

The expansion highlights the company's growing role in meeting regional and international demand for aircraft cabin completion, modification, certification, manufacturing and maintenance services. It also reinforces MBRAH’s appeal as a strategic base for aerospace companies seeking to expand within an integrated aviation ecosystem.

Since establishing operations at MBRAH, UUDS AERO has developed four facilities within the Aerospace Supply Chain zone. A fifth airside facility is currently under construction as part of the company’s ongoing growth strategy.

The company is also advancing plans to develop two additional Code F plots, which will support wide-body aircraft cabin completion and retrofit programmes. These developments will also pave the way for the region’s first Cabin Excellence Centre within the Airline Manufacturing and Supply Chain Zone.

The latest expansion reflects the continued growth of aerospace activity across MBRAH, supported by advanced infrastructure, strong connectivity, regulatory advantages and access to a broad network of aviation manufacturers, suppliers, maintenance providers and industry stakeholders.

Tahnoon Saif, Chief Executive Officer of MBRAH, said UUDS AERO’s rapid growth demonstrates the strength of the aerospace ecosystem being developed at Dubai South. He noted that MBRAH remains committed to supporting Dubai’s ambition of becoming a global aviation centre by providing businesses with the infrastructure and connectivity needed to expand and serve international markets.

Gilles Negre, Founder and Chairman of UUDS AERO, said the company’s expansion reflects its confidence in Dubai’s aviation industry and the opportunities available through its strategic location. He added that Dubai South has enabled UUDS AERO to strengthen its capabilities, broaden its customer base and enhance collaboration with aviation stakeholders worldwide.

Source: ZAWYA

Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Qatar Airways have launched the Fast Pass biometric service, introducing facial recognition technology to streamline the passenger departure experience and reduce reliance on physical travel documents.

Developed in partnership with technology provider SITA, the system enables travellers to pass through key airport checkpoints using facial recognition instead of repeatedly presenting boarding passes or identification documents.

The rollout is among the largest biometric passenger initiatives in the Middle East and one of the most extensive globally, integrating more than 700 biometric touchpoints into a unified travel journey while incorporating security and data protection measures throughout the process.

Passengers can enrol in the Fast Pass programme through self-service check-in kiosks at Hamad International Airport or via the Qatar Airways mobile app. Once registered, they can access dedicated biometric lanes at check-in, baggage drop, security screening and boarding gates, using their face as their boarding credential.

The facial recognition process takes only a few seconds, helping to reduce waiting times and minimise document checks, particularly during peak travel periods. The service is voluntary, with conventional processing remaining available and airport staff on hand to assist passengers.

The introduction of Fast Pass comes as demand for biometric travel solutions continues to grow. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a majority of travellers now favour biometric identification over traditional paper documents.

As part of Hamad International Airport's wider Innovation Roadmap, the new system supports the airport's transition towards more efficient and digital passenger processing. Airport officials said the Fast Pass platform will be expanded to additional touchpoints over time, with plans to make the technology available to other airlines operating from HIA in the future.

Source: ZAWYA