The best and worst African airports ranked globally

The state of airport operations across Africa is as varied as the continent, reflecting a mix of world-class facilities and infrastructure challenges.

At their best, African airports exemplify innovation, efficiency, and a warm welcome for travellers, showcasing modern designs, state-of-the-art technology, and excellent customer service.

These airports not only handle increasing passenger traffic with ease but also enhance connectivity and contribute to economic growth.

On the other hand, the continent still struggles with airports plagued by outdated facilities, long delays, and inadequate services. Operational inefficiencies, such as poor baggage handling and insufficient passenger amenities, also leave travellers frustrated.

A recent AirHelp report sheds light on how African airports stack up globally in terms of performance and traveller satisfaction.

AirHelp evaluated 239 airports from 69 countries, using three essential metrics: on-time performance, customer opinions, and food and shopping experience.

From a database of over 4,000 airports, only the busiest and most popular ones made the cut, based on flight traffic and traveler interest.

Below are the best and worst African airports ranked globally:

1.Cape Town International Airport, South Africa (Global Rank: 2nd)

Cape Town International Airport leads Africa with an exceptional AirHelp score of 8.50, ranking as the second-best airport globally. The airport stands out with its on-time performance score of 8.6 and an impressive customer opinion rating of 8.4. Its modern infrastructure, excellent amenities, and efficiency make it a benchmark for other airports on the continent.

2. Johannesburg International Airport, South Africa (Global Rank: 6th)

South Africa cements its dominance with Johannesburg International Airport, ranked 6th globally. Scoring 8.29 overall, the airport garners praise for its smooth operations and strong customer satisfaction rating of 8.3.

3. Marrakesh Menara Airport, Morocco (Global Rank: 168th)

Marrakesh Menara Airport ranks third in Africa with a score of 7.33. Although its global ranking is lower than the South African airports, it boasts strong customer opinions, scoring 7.8 in that category.

4.Cairo International Airport, Egypt (Global Rank: 201st)

Cairo Airport ranks fourth in Africa but falls significantly on the global scale, with an overall score of 7.16. While it scores a decent 7.8 in customer opinion, its on-time performance (6.6) leaves room for improvement. Being one of Africa’s busiest airports, operational delays are a key concern.

5.Casablanca Mohamed V International Airport, Morocco (Global Rank: 214th)

Casablanca Airport follows closely behind Cairo, with a score of 7.05. Similar to Cairo, customer opinion is relatively strong at 7.8, but on-time performance drags it down, scoring just 6.6. The airport serves as a significant gateway to North Africa but faces challenges in efficiency.

6.Tunis Carthage International Airport, Tunisia (Global Rank: 239th)

Tunis Carthage Airport ranks at the bottom of the African list and globally at 239th, with an overall score of 5.35. Poor on-time performance (4.8) and customer opinion (6.2) highlight the need for substantial improvements in service quality and operational efficiency.