• Cameroonian airports handled 1.77 million passengers in 2024, a 5.6% increase from 2023.
• International routes, particularly those outside the CEMAC zone, drove this growth, accounting for nearly 60% of traffic.
• Domestic traffic declined by 17%, mainly due to operational issues at Camair-Co.
Cameroonian airports welcomed 1.77 million passengers in 2024. This represents a 5.6% progression compared to 2023, according to the activity report from Aéroports du Cameroun (ADC). This growth, the most sustained since the health crisis, primarily stems from international connections. These now concentrate nearly 60% of the traffic.
Routes outside the CEMAC zone show the most marked dynamic (+31%). This translates into a significant rebound in intercontinental traffic. Regional connections to neighboring countries also progress, confirming Cameroon's importance as a transit hub in Central Africa. Conversely, domestic traffic drops by 17%, penalized by Camair-Co's operational difficulties in the second half. The report highlights: "This observation underscores the necessity to consolidate domestic offerings to maintain national connectivity."
Douala and Yaoundé-Nsimalen Lead
Douala International Airport maintains its position as the country's leading platform with 18,436 aircraft movements. This occurs even as domestic traffic receded (-10.4%). International traffic, however, shows a clear increase: +6.6% in movements, +9% in passengers, and +2.2% in freight. Yaoundé-Nsimalen follows the same trend: +12.7% in passengers in one year, supported by dynamic intercontinental routes (+9.4%).
These two platforms thus consolidate their strategic role in Cameroon's connectivity. Douala concentrates the majority of international flows, while Yaoundé-Nsimalen progressively establishes itself as a regional relay.
Secondary airports (Bamenda, Bafoussam, Maroua, etc.), however, remain fragile. Despite 2,922 movements (+0.9%), the total number of passengers receded by 5.6%, and freight collapsed (-64.8%) due to the halt of international operations. ADC estimates that these infrastructures "remain essential for national connectivity, but require strategic reflection on their logistical and international integration."
Beyond the Figures
This report illustrates a dual challenge for Cameroonian air transport. On one hand, the rise of international and intercontinental connections confirms the country's role as a strategic gateway to Central Africa. It can capture growing regional and global flows. On the other hand, the weakening of domestic traffic, exacerbated by Camair-Co's chronic difficulties, recalls the urgency of rethinking internal offerings to guarantee territorial continuity.
While Douala and Yaoundé-Nsimalen consolidate their positioning as hubs, the progressive marginalization of secondary airports risks accentuating accessibility inequalities and hindering national economic integration. The true equation for ADC therefore remains to reconcile international openness and internal cohesion. It must direct investments not only towards the development of large platforms but also towards better valorization of the secondary network.
This article was initially published in French by Amina Malloum
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum