Rabat – The Mohammed V International Airport, located in Casablanca, Morocco, has emerged as a prominent player in the African aviation landscape, a recent report by Airports Council International (ACI) indicated.
The data for 2022 revealed that the Moroccan airport secured the fourth position among the continent’s busiest airports, reinforcing its status as a vital gateway to Africa.
In 2022, a staggering seven billion air passengers traveled across the world’s 41,700 commercial airports, marking a remarkable over 50% increase compared to the previous year.
The figures, while reflecting a global trend, also cast a spotlight on the impressive growth of air travel in Africa.
The continent witnessed over 178 million air travelers passing through its 477 airports in 2022.
A breakdown by quarters showed a consistent rise in passenger numbers, with the first quarter seeing 35 million travelers within the continent, followed by nearly 42 million in the second quarter, 51 million in the third, and 49 million in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport welcomed a total of 7.6 million passengers last year.
Read also: Casablanca Among Africa’s Top 5 Cities To Live, Work, Study, and Invest
The Mohammed V International Airport’s position as a key player in African aviation can be attributed to several factors, including its strategic location close to Europe, which has made it a vital transit point for travelers connecting between Africa and other global destinations.
In addition, Morocco’s investments in airport infrastructure and aviation services have significantly contributed to its growing prominence.
Cairo International Airport in Egypt took the top spot, with a total of 20 million passengers.
The second and third spots went to South Africa’s O. R. Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport, with over 14 million and 7 million passengers respectively.
Egypt’s Hurghada International Airport followed in fifth place, while Addis Ababa-based Bole International Airport took sixth position.
Meanwhile, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi ranked seventh, followed by Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, and Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers.
