Kumasi International Airport is a second busiest airport in Ghana after Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
Kumasi Airport serves Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region.
In 2022, the airport handled over 450,000 passengers making it the second busiest airport in the country.
Kumasi International Airport is located 6 kilometres from Kumasi.
It was changed from a military base to an airport in 1999.
The airport has undergone several renovation and expansion projects to help push its status as an international airport.
How it started
Although approval was obtained as far back as 1940, it was not until 1947 that documentation for land acquisition was completed and paid for. However by 1943, Kumasi Airport had been completed.
There were extensive developments in 1958 and 1959 by the Ghana Government on the runway, navigational facilities and human resource to enhance internal airline operations. The installation of runway and taxiway lights and the extension of the main runway to the southern part in the late 1970’s was another major improvement to the Kumasi Airport.
Phase 1
Whilst the lights enhanced night operations, the extension of the runway enabled operations of short haul jets like the F28. The building of a new Terminal and the installation of a VOR/DME commissioned on 1st December 1993 completed the modernization process. In 2003, Kumasi was declared an International Airport primarily for regional operations with the full complement of Security, Customs and Immigration staff.
In December 2014, the newly rehabilitated runway installed with Aeronautical Ground Lighting Systems was inaugurated. This paved the way for domestic airlines to commence night operations..
Currently, Master Plan studies for the airport is on-going. Some projects planned in the next phase include the construction of additional parking aprons, extension of the runway and the construction of a new terminal building.
Phases 2 & 3
Work on the Kumasi Airport Project (Phase 2 & 3) is progressing steadily and the project to date is about 93%. The Project Contractor is Messrs Contracta Construction UK Ltd. The Phase II of the project, which began in 2018, includes the construction of a new terminal building to handle one million passengers per annum, two boarding bridges, a road network, perimeter fence, a substation and parking lot among others. The cost of the Phase II of expansion works on the second busiest airport in Ghana is estimated at £66,350,000.
Phase III of the Kumasi Airport expansion project involves the extension of the existing runway pavement from 1,981 meters to 2,320 meters, construction of new taxi link and two apron parking stands, an Air Traffic Control Building, and a Fire Station among others. The cost for this phase is estimated at £58,900,000.
The Kumasi Airport is currently served by two domestic carriers namely: Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir.
