10 Largest International Airports in Africa by Size

Airports are more than runways and terminals. Big airports connect cities, move cargo, and help economies grow. In Africa, aviation has been expanding fast. New terminals, longer runways and bigger cargo areas are being built across the continent. In this piece I explain why airport size matters, what “largest” can mean, then list the top 10 largest international airports in Africa with simple facts you can use.

Why airport size matters for travel and cargo

A large airport usually means:

• More space for runways and parking — so bigger planes and more flights.

• Bigger terminals and more gates — shorter waiting lines and more routes.

• Larger cargo areas — faster import and export of goods.

• Room for future growth — the airport can add new terminals or runways as traffic grows.

Size helps move people and goods more efficiently. For governments and businesses, a larger airport can boost tourism, trade and jobs.

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data-start="1055" data-end="1116">Brief overview of Africa’s growing aviation infrastructure

Over the last decade, many African airports have seen upgrades: new terminals, extra runways, improved air traffic control and modern cargo facilities. Cities like Cairo, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg and Casablanca now host large hubs that link Africa to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Passenger numbers recovered quickly after the pandemic, and cargo volumes are rising too, pushing airports to expand.

What makes an airport “largest”?

There are several ways to measure “largest”:

• Land area (km²): The total land owned by the airport.

• Terminal floor space (m²): Size of passenger buildings.

• Number of runways: More runways increase capacity.

• Annual passenger numbers: Tells how busy an airport is.

• Cargo capacity (tons/year): Important for trade.

Difference between “largest” and “busiest”: Largest usually refers to physical size or built capacity. Busiest refers to traffic,  how many passengers or tonnes of cargo pass through. An airport can be very large (big land) but not the busiest, if it has spare capacity. Conversely, a busy airport might be smaller in land area but operating at full capacity.

Top 10 largest international airports in Africa

Below I list 10 major African international airports often considered among the largest by land, terminal size or capacity. For each I give location, known size or terminal area where available, runways, and notable facilities.

1. Cairo International Airport (CAI) — Cairo, Egypt

• Approximate area: ~37 km² (14 sq mi).

• Runways: Three runways (including long main runways that serve A380s and other large jets).

• Notable facilities: Multiple terminals (Terminals 1–3 and temporary terminals/refurbishments), large cargo area, recent terminal expansions to increase capacity to over 25 million passengers per year.

• Notes: Cairo is widely reported as Africa’s busiest airport by passenger numbers in recent years.

2. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Size / terminal: The newer terminal and parallel runway expansions give this airport large operational area (terminal space measured in tens of thousands of m²).

• Runways: Two parallel long runways capable of handling large wide-body aircraft.

• Notable facilities: Ethiopian Airlines hub, modern passenger terminal and cargo handling facilities. Bole has grown fast as a continental and intercontinental hub.

3. O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) — Johannesburg, South Africa

• Size: Large airport site with multiple terminals and big apron areas.

• Runways: Two long parallel runways (03L/21R is over 4,400 m).

• Notable facilities: Major southern African hub with several terminals and a large central redevelopment plan (Central Terminal A3). It handles a large share of regional and international traffic.

4. Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) — Casablanca, Morocco

• Size / capacity: One of North Africa’s main gateways with wide terminal spaces and growing cargo operations.

• Runways: Multiple runways suitable for heavy aircraft.

• Notable facilities: Large international connectivity to Europe, Africa and the Americas; cargo facilities for Morocco’s exports. Passenger numbers put it among Africa’s top airports.

5. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) — Cape Town, South Africa

• Size / facilities: A large coastal airport with modern terminal spaces and apron area.

• Runways: Two runways (one long runway for international traffic).

• Notable facilities: Strong tourism-focused services, long-haul connectivity especially in peak season. Ranked among Africa’s busier airports by passengers. It is one of the best airports in Africa

6. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) — Nairobi, Kenya

• Size / capacity: Major East African hub; terminals and apron areas are sizable and undergoing upgrades.

• Runways: Two runways and large apron operations.

• Notable facilities: Hub for Kenya Airways and a key gateway for cargo and passenger traffic to East Africa and beyond.

7. Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) — Lagos, Nigeria

• Size / runways: Two runways (one long runway ~3,900 m) and an extensive apron area.

• Notable facilities: Major Nigerian gateway with both domestic and international terminals. It handles millions of passengers yearly and significant cargo flows for West Africa.

8. Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) — Algiers, Algeria

• Size: Large international airport serving Algeria’s capital with significant land and terminal area.

• Runways: Multiple runways suitable for large aircraft.

• Notable facilities: Strong connections to Europe and Africa; growing passenger numbers.

9. King Shaka International Airport (DUR) — Durban, South Africa

• Terminal area: Passenger terminal floor area around 102,000 m²; designed for roughly 7–10 million passengers per year.

• Runways: One main runway with large apron and parking bays; several jet bridges, including Code F-capable stands.

• Notable facilities: Modern terminal built for the 2010 World Cup with plenty of room for future growth.

10. Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) — Dakar, Senegal (or Kotoka International ACC as alternative)

• Size: Newer international airport outside Dakar with modern terminal and apron areas suited for international traffic.

• Runways: At least one long runway with modern facilities.

• Notable facilities: Built to relieve older airports and support regional growth and cargo. (Other African airports such as Kotoka in Accra and Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan also rank high in passenger numbers and regional importance.)

Spotlight: The Number One Largest Airport in Africa — Cairo International (by land and busiest passenger flows)

Cairo is commonly described as Africa’s busiest airport in passenger terms and one of the largest by land area at roughly 37 km². Its recent terminal upgrades increased capacity, added modern passenger services and improved cargo handling. Historically, Cairo grew as Egypt expanded air services across Africa and the Middle East; today it remains a vital hub for passengers and freight moving to and from the continent.

How size impacts travel & economy

• Cargo handling: Bigger airports have larger cargo terminals, which support exports (agriculture, textiles, manufacturing). Better cargo capacity reduces shipping time and cost.

• Passenger experience: More space allows more lounges, faster security lines, better retail and smoother connections.

• Tourism and business: Large international airports enable direct flights from many cities. Direct connections bring tourists and foreign investors.

• Jobs and investment: Airport construction and operations create jobs — from ground staff to retail workers and logistics firms. Large airports also attract hotels, transport services, and industrial zones.

Conclusion

Africa’s largest airports are more than big buildings, they are engines for trade, travel and jobs. Airports like Cairo, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg demonstrate how land area, runways, and terminals combine to create hubs that transport millions of people and tonnes of goods each year. As African economies continue to grow, expect more expansions and the development of new large airports in the coming years.