Kigali International Airport ranked among top 10 airports in Africa
Kigali International Airport has been ranked among the top 10 airports in Africa, according to 2026 World Airport Awards by Skytrax, a UK-based specialist research and advisors firm to the air transport industry.
The ranking was based on several criteria, including the quality of infrastructure, cleanliness, security, tranquility, as well as services offered to passengers, including dining and beverages.
Kigali International Airport was also recognized as one of the top three regional airports on the continent.
Skytrax highlights that despite its modest size, Kigali Airport has seen an increase in passenger numbers, driven notably by the development of RwandAir.
The evaluation was based on a star-rating system, ranging from one to five, with five stars representing the highest level of service.
For Kigali, the highest-rated services concern the ease of passenger movement, the reduction of long walking distances, as well as the quality of communication, provided by staff fluent in multiple languages.
Modernization works undertaken in July 2022 have increased the airport's capacity, which can now accommodate more than 50 aircraft in parking.
Cape Town International Airport was ranked Africa's best, followed by O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, while King Shaka International Airport, Durban, emerged third.
Morocco’s Marrakech Menara Airport and Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca, were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, while Egypt’s Cairo International Airport emerged sixth.
Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport was ranked 7th, while Ivato International Airport of Madagascar closed the ranks of the top 10.
Singapore Changi Airport was named the Airport of the Year 2026 at the 2026 World Airport Awards ceremony held at PTE World in London on March 18, 2026.
The World Airport Awards are voted by customers in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey based on the World Airport Survey questionnaires completed by over 100 nationalities of airport customers.
More than 575 airports worldwide are assessed based on these performance indicators, with particular attention paid to consistency and the overall quality of the passenger experience.
