Ivory Coast is rapidly establishing itself as a key aviation hub in West Africa, with 22 foreign airlines currently operating within the country, according to the Director General of Air Transport, Ahmed Djibril Coulibaly.
Speaking at the weekly All About the Government press conference hosted by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG) in Abidjan’s Plateau district on Tuesday, Coulibaly provided a detailed overview of the country’s air traffic distribution through Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in 2024.
According to the data, 33.9% of traffic was linked to ECOWAS countries, underscoring strong regional connectivity.
France accounted for 24.1% of the total, followed closely by other African nations at 23.6%.
Europe excluding France contributed 7%, while North America registered 1.6%. The remaining 6.7% came from other global destinations, with domestic flights comprising just 3.1%.
Coulibaly emphasized the strategic importance of diversifying air traffic and enhancing the country’s infrastructure to remain competitive in the global aviation landscape.
“In order to better position Côte d’Ivoire as a regional aviation leader, we are currently advancing with studies for the construction of a second international airport,” Coulibaly revealed.
“At the same time, significant progress is being made on the expansion of Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport.”
The government’s efforts reflect a broader push to modernize Ivory Coast’s transport sector and attract more international airlines.
Enhancements to airport capacity and services are seen as essential to accommodating increasing passenger volumes and boosting the country’s profile as a transit and tourism destination.
“These developments will not only improve connectivity but will also enhance the competitiveness of Ivorian airspace,” Coulibaly concluded.
With a clear focus on infrastructure and strategic partnerships, Ivory Coast’s aviation ambitions appear to be gaining altitude.
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