Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport welcomed 742,123 passengers in 2023, an increase of 17% compared to 2022 (630,527 pax) and a level of AIAST attendance significantly higher than before Covid in 2019 (+29%).
These performances confirm, once again, the development of air traffic in Guinea due to several internal and external factors.
Aircraft movements increased by 7% compared to 2022 (10,880) and by 30% compared to the pre-covid period in 2029 (8,308).
Import and Export freight activities remained almost stable over the 2022-2023 period.
These findings denote the renewed dynamism of a sector which has undergone significant change with the application of a well-structured and ambitious development plan led by the airport authorities in collaboration with airlines operating numerous routes around the world.
The major reasons
The influx of many Sierra Leonean passengers for arrival and departure at the Airport is a major external contributing factor to this growth in traffic at the Ahmed Sekou Toure International Airport .
Freetown International Airport (FNA) officially opened its new terminal in March 2023 at a ceremony attended by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio. The $270 million terminal has the capacity for over one million passengers annually, five times the airport’s current capacity.
However, many Sierra Leonean Passengers are using the Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Guinea due to cheaper cost of flights tickets compared to FNA in Sierra Leone.
This has significantly contributed to the Airport Revenue Generation for the Airport
Economic growth in Guinea accelerated in 2022 to reach 4.7%, after a strong acceleration in the mining sector, a key sector of the economy; contributing to the increase in trafficking in Guinea.
With an economic growth forecast estimated at 6.1% for 2023 and a business environment combined with strong development of multiple infrastructure projects in the country, airlines are increasing their capacity in order to meet passenger expectations.
The increase in the flow of pilgrims cannot be left off the hook as the number has exceeded the milestone of 10,000 in 2023.
