Abidjan airport set to welcome 2.57 million passengers in 2025 as it strengthens regional hub ambitions
Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan is poised to handle 2,570,000 passengers in 2025, marking a new milestone in its steady recovery and expansion following the Covid-19 pandemic. This growth reflects Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions to position the airport as a key regional hub in West Africa.
Passenger traffic has surged dramatically in recent years, rising from 935,120 in 2020 to 2,535,451 in 2024—an increase of 171.1%. Ahmed Coulibaly, Director General of Air Transport, shared these figures on July 8 during the government-organised “All you need to know about” forum.
According to Coulibaly, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) accounts for 33.9% of passenger traffic at Abidjan airport, with France following at 24.1%. Freight transport also shows strong growth, with 32,559 tonnes moved in 2024 and a forecast of 34,000 tonnes for 2025.
The national carrier, Air Côte d’Ivoire, continues to expand its market presence. “It holds a leading position in West and Central Africa, carrying approximately 7.4 million passengers between 2013 and 2024,” Coulibaly noted.
The airline now serves 18 destinations in the region and has recorded profits of 1.5 billion CFA francs in 2024, a 125% increase from the previous year.
Domestic flights connect Abidjan with cities such as Korhogo, Bouaké, Man, San-Pedro, and Odienné, collectively serving an average of 70,000 passengers annually.
Côte d’Ivoire is ranked first in Africa for airport operational safety and 11th worldwide, with a strong civil aviation security record placing it second in Africa.
The country is among the few worldwide to hold two International Civil Aviation Organization certificates—one for safety and another for security.
Air traffic connectivity has expanded to 35 cities globally, including 28 in Africa, four in Asia, two in Europe, and one in North America.
With government and shareholder investment, Air Côte d’Ivoire’s fleet currently consists of 12 aircraft, with plans to expand to 18 by 2031. The airline also boosted its capital from 130 billion to 190 billion CFA francs in 2024.
Looking ahead, the government aims to adopt a national air transport policy to foster domestic and tourist traffic while promoting advanced training in aviation fields.
Coulibaly emphasized, “In addition to technical professions such as pilots and aircraft mechanics, we will work to attract a greater number of aviation lawyers and air transport economists.”
For Côte d’Ivoire, air transport remains a vital tool in its strategy to boost tourism, trade, and the movement of goods and passengers worldwide.
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