Africa’s aviation sector is in the middle of a powerful rebound, with airports across the continent recording sharp increases in passenger numbers and flight activity.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African airlines saw a 9.5% year-on-year growth in international passenger demand in May 2025, outpacing most global regions.
A key driver of this growth was the sharp increase in traffic on the Africa–Asia corridor, where demand surged 15.9% year-on-year, making it the fastest-growing international route worldwide for the month.
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) projects traffic to hit 113 million passengers in 2025, a leap from 98 million in 2024, representing a 15.3% increase. This increase highlights the industry’s resilience and positive trajectory.
This list highlights the busiest airports in Africa, measured by the number of scheduled daily departures. It includes only scheduled passenger flights and excludes freighters or chartered flights. The data is sourced from FlightsFrom.com, a travel tool website that publishes airline routes and schedules worldwide.
Here is the ranking of Africa’s top ten busiest airports by flight traffic as of July 2025
3. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) – 190 flights every day 
- 10. Dar Es Salaam (DAR): 84 flights every day
- 9. Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ): 92 flights every day
- 8. Murtala Muhammed Airport (LOS) – 99 flights daily
- 7. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) – 102 flights daily
- 6. Houari Boumediene Airport – Algiers, Algeria (ALG): 102 flights daily
- 5. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – (Nairobi): 108 flights every day
- 4. Mohammed V International Airport (CMN): 114 flights every day
- 3. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) – 190 flights every day
- 2. Cairo International Airport (CAI) – 242 flights every day
- 1. Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) – 249 flights every day
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is the largest airport in Ethiopia, ranking as Africa’s third busiest aviation hub with an average of 190 flights every day as of July 2025.
ADD connects passengers to 120 destinations worldwide through 14 scheduled airlines. Located in Ethiopia’s capital, the airport functions as the central hub of Ethiopian Airlines, the continent’s largest and most profitable carrier.
In 2024, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport also held the third spot in Africa, operating with a slightly higher average of 194 daily flights.
The busiest route from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is the domestic connection to Bahar Dar (BJR), which records an average of 99 flights per week, representing about 7% of the airport’s total weekly departures.
Ethiopian Airlines is by far the dominant carrier at the hub, operating approximately 1,376 scheduled flights every week, an overwhelming lead that is nearly 98 times more than the second-largest operator, flydubai.
Top most frequented routes
- Bahir Dar Airport ( Ethiopia) – 14 to 15 flights per day.
- Mekele Airport (Ethiopia) – About 9 flights per day.
- Aba Tenna Dejazmatch Yilma International Airport (Ethiopia) – 7 to 8 flights per day.
- Jijiga Airport (Ethiopia) – 6 to 8 daily flights.
- Combolcha Airport (Ethiopia)- 6 daily flights
On the international front, Dubai (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates and Rome (FCO) in Italy rank among the top destinations.
3. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) – 190 flights every day
- 10. Dar Es Salaam (DAR): 84 flights every day
- 9. Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ): 92 flights every day
- 8. Murtala Muhammed Airport (LOS) – 99 flights daily
- 7. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) – 102 flights daily
- 6. Houari Boumediene Airport – Algiers, Algeria (ALG): 102 flights daily
- 5. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – (Nairobi): 108 flights every day
- 4. Mohammed V International Airport (CMN): 114 flights every day
- 3. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) – 190 flights every day
- 2. Cairo International Airport (CAI) – 242 flights every day
- 1. Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) – 249 flights every day
