Best in Africa: SA airports ranked amongst top ten

Amazing airports: Five of South Africa’s airports were recently ranked amongst the top 10 in Africa with Cape Town International taking top spot.

Five SA airports made it to the Top 10 Best Airports list ranked by world region in the 2021 World Airport Awards. 

This list is courtesy of the World Airports Awards, an annual awards event organised by Skytrax, a UK-based consultancy service specialising in airline and airport reviews.

Every year, SKYTRAX‘s airport customer satisfaction survey focuses on customer service and facilities in more than 500 airports around the world, in order to determine the best airports in different parts of the world.

WHICH SA AIRPORTS MADE IT TO THE TOP 10?

• Cape Town International

The Cape Town International is Africa’s most award winning airport! As the 3rd largest airport in the continent it processes over 10 million passengers annually.

The airport won second place in the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality Awards (ACI-ASQ Awards) for the Middle East and Africa in 2006, 2007 and 2013 and placed third in 2008 and 2016 beating out notable Middle Eastern heavyweights such as Dubai International Airport.

• King Shaka International

The airport was named after King Shaka, a 19th century Zulu king. It has a capacity capability of 7, 5 million passengers per annum.

In 2016 it was voted by Skytrax for the Best Airport Staff in Africa!

• OR Tambo International

Formerly, Jan Smuts Airport, it was renamed in honour of the late and former ANC President, Oliver Reginald Tambo, who was more commonly referred to by the name of OR Tambo.

Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport is one of the few airports in the world with scheduled passenger direct flights between all 6 inhabited continents and also serves as a continental gateway to many sub-Saharan countries.

• Port Elizabeth International

Due to its proximity to key areas in Gqeberha, it was nicknamed the “ten-minute airport”. The airport also operates domestic and international flights. 

• Bram Fischer International

The airport is found in the landlocked city of Bloemfontein, both the capital city of the Free State province and the judicial capital of South Africa. 

Due to its convenient position near the geographical centre of the country, Bloemfontein Airport plays a vital role in business travel, cargo shipping, and tourism within South Africa.

These were the best airports in Africa: 

1. Cape Town International
2. King Shaka International
3. OR Tambo International
4. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (Mauritius)
5. Marrakech Menara Airport (Morocco)
6. Mohammed V International, Casablanca (Morocco)
7. Addis Ababa Bole International (Ethiopia)
8. Kigali International(Rwanda)
9. Port Elizabeth International
10. Bram Fischer International

By: Nokwanda Ncwane

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