Business Insider Edition
In Africa, millions of passengers connect daily flights to and from within the continent and the world.
Over the years air travel has become one of the most common and reliable means of transport across the world.
In Africa, the situation is not any different and every day millions of African connects flights to and from the continent and the world.
Here are ten largest airports found in Africa.
#10. Port Elizabeth International Airport
Port Elizabeth International Airport is an airport serving port Elizabeth, a city in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa.
The airport is equipped with two asphalt paved runways, 13 aircraft parking bays on the apron and the terminal building measures 8700 square metres.
It is also known as the ‘ten minute airport’, because it is said to be less than ten minutes' drive from major areas of the city.
#9. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, formerly called Embakasi Airport and Nairobi International Airport, is Kenya’s largest aviation facility.
It is in the process of constructing a category 2 runway of 4.8 kilometres long and 75 metre wide runway at a cost of Ksh37 Billion (USD 370 million).
#8. Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is an international airport located in Ikeja, Lagos state, Nigeria.
A new domestic privately funded terminal known as MMA2 was commissioned on 7 April 2007.
The airport sits at an elevation of 135 feet above the mean sea level and equipped with two asphalt paved runways.
#7. Mohammed V International Airport
Mohammed V International Airport is an airport located in Nouasseur, a suburb 30 km south-east of Casablanca.
It is the largest airport in Morocco and has a network of approximately 100 destinations served by more than 30 airlines.
#6. Hurghada International Airport
Hurghada International Airport is an international airport located inland, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of El Dahar, the downtown of Hurghada.
It has two terminals and runway measuring 13156 ft (4010 m) long.
#5. Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is an international airport located in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
It is located in 18 kilometers (11 miles) northeast from the city of Sharm El Sheikh and has two passenger terminals.
The airport sits at an elevation of 143 feet above the mean sea level and has a runway of 10111 ft (3082 m) long.
#4. King Shaka International Airport
King Shaka International Airport also known as La Mercy Airport, and abbreviated KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa.
It is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km north of Durban.
The airport was opened in June 2010 in readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and replaced the existing Durban International Airport.
It has a 3.7km runway which allows for the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747s to use the airport.
#3. Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport is the primary airport serving the city of Cape Town.
It is located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city centre and boasts of world class facilitates like an automated baggage handling system, capable of handling 30,000 bags per hour.
Restaurants within the terminal building are located on the upper (3rd) level above the departures level, which includes what is purported to be the largest Spur restaurant on the African continent, at 1,080 m2 (11,600 sq ft).
#2. Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport is the largest airport in Egypt and the second largest in Africa.
It is located to the north-east of the city around 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the business area of the city.
Over 65 airlines use Cairo airport (including charter airlines) and 9 cargo airlines.
The airport has three terminals, with the third (and largest) opened on 27 April 2009.
#1. O.R. Tambo International Airport
O.R. Tambo International Airport is Africa's biggest and busiest airport, facilitating approximately 19 million passengers a year.
More than 50 percent of South Africa's air travelling passengers are facilitated through the airport.
It is situated in Gauteng, the heart of South Africa's commercial and industrial hub and has excellent road infrastructure linking it to Johannesburg, Pretoria and the national road network.
It is situated almost 1,700 metres (5,500 feet) above the mean sea level, which means some aircraft must reduce weight by loading less fuel than they would otherwise because the air is thin.
The thinner air is also the reason behind the longer than usual runways.
There are two parallel north–south runways and a disused cross runway. The western runway, 03L/21R, is over 4400 m (14,000 ft) long, making it one of the world's longest international airport runways.
