Airports in Africa

Cairo International Airport (CAI) is located 14 miles (22km) outside of the city and is the primary gateway to the ancient wonders of Egypt, including the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. More than 16 million tourists and business travellers pass through Cairo Airport each year.

Because of the popularity of Egypt as a holiday destination, and the city’s convenient location between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Cairo is an important hub for many airlines. You can find flights to Cairo International Airport from many cities on several continents, including London, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Rome, Johannesburg, Athens, Dubai, Beijing, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Vienna and Munich.

The airport’s Terminal 1 and new Terminal 3 facilities are considered clean and modern by Egyptian standards, however the bathrooms are often unclean and out of order, as is the case with many Egyptian airports. Cairo is not a pleasant airport to spend much time in, as entertainment, food and shopping options are rather limited and many staff members don’t speak English.

Africa's third-busiest airport, and the winner of the 2009 Skytrax award for Best Airport in Africa, Cape Town International (CPT) is a sleek, light and spacious transport hub – and a suitably lovely introduction for foreign visitors to the Cape of Good Hope.

Recently upgraded for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cape Town International is a truly world-class airport, and a prime tourism gateway. Flights to Cape Town International are operated by a huge array of airlines, bringing eager visitors from all over the world to the city's sunny shores.

Boasting an impressive array of facilities and amenities, just as you'll have no shortage of things to do in South Africa's Mother City – with hiking trails up iconic Table Mountain, long stretches of beautiful beaches, trips out to historic Robben Island, and serious partying in Long Street all in the offing – rest assured that your time spent in transit in Cape Town International will be very painless indeed.

Welcoming more than 3 million passengers each year, Marrakech-Menara International Airport (RAK) serves the city of Marrakech, and is one of the busiest airports in Morocco after Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport. Flights to Marrakech-Menara International Airport are available from many cities around Europe, including Lisbon, Brussels, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Copenhagen, Oslo and Milan. There are also local connections available via Casablanca if you're coming from elsewhere, such as the US or Canada.

Despite a modern appearance and beautiful facilities, the airport is often crowded and disorganized, with long queues for ticket counters and security. If you’re flying out of Marrakech, get to the airport well in advance of the flight to leave time for queuing and finding your gate, as notice boards are lacking and your ticket may not have this information.

After massive upgrades for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) is vastly different to the disorganized airport of only a few years ago. South Africa’s main hub and Africa’s busiest airport, it processes nearly 18 million passengers each year from destinations around the world and is the point of entry for nearly every visitor to South Africa.

Many flights to OR Tambo Airport come from other parts of Africa, including Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, George, Maputo, Harare and Gabarone. However, there are also regular flights from major international destinations such as London, Paris, Cairo, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Dubai, Madrid, Athens, Mumbai, Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Lisbon and Istanbul.

As the gateway to the wonders of South Africa, including nearby Kruger National Park and the historic townships of Alexandra and Soweto, Johannesburg’s improved airport gets high marks for service. The spacious terminals are perfectly adequate for a long stopover.

Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is seven miles (11km) southeast of the capital of Victoria on the island of Mahe in the Seychelles. This is a functional, efficient airport which should get you through and into your Seychelles vacation with no trouble at all. The airport is improving and expanding as passenger traffic increases, with new shops and facilities opening regularly.

Flights to Seychelles International Airport arrive from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The airport is also a hub for inter-island travel, with several daily domestic flights.

Victoria is the only port in the Seychelles and one of the smallest capital cities in the world, with a population of just 25,000 people. Make sure you check out the city hall and post office in the centre of town, which haven't changed since colonial times.