Operational
Airport Profile · NG

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport

ABV DNAA
Abuja, NG Africa/Lagos Multi-airline hub
5.5M
Annual passengers
37+
Destinations
25
Airlines
1
Runway
Where ABV ranks
Among 534 international airports — and 75 in Africa
View full ranking →
Passengers
# 324 worldwide
# 18 Africa
Direct routes
# 369 worldwide
# 24 Africa
Airlines
# 301 worldwide
# 21 Africa
Runways
# 300 worldwide
# 25 Africa
Terminals
# 71 worldwide
# 6 Africa
Area
# 282 worldwide
# 21 Africa
Elevation
# 97 worldwide
# 23 Africa
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is Nigeria's principal federal-capital gateway and the second-busiest airport in the country after Lagos Murtala Muhammed (LOS), serving Abuja and the surrounding Federal Capital Territory along with a wide catchment across northern Nigeria extending to Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states. Located 22 mi (35 km) southwest of downtown Abuja at 1,123 ft (342 m) elevation, ABV handles 92 routes across 37 destinations through 25 airlines. The airport is named for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first president and a central figure in the country's independence movement. ABV is the primary operational gateway for Nigerian government, diplomatic, and international-agency travel given Abuja's 1991 designation as the federal capital replacing Lagos. Nigerian carriers Air Peace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Max Air, Green Africa Airways, Dana Air, and Arik Air operate domestic service linking Abuja to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Calabar, Benin City, and Kaduna. International service centers on Africa, the Middle East, and Europe: Ethiopian (Addis Ababa), Kenya Airways (Nairobi), EgyptAir (Cairo), Rwandair (Kigali), ASKY (Lomé), Royal Air Maroc (Casablanca), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), Qatar Airways (Doha), Emirates (Dubai), Etihad, British Airways (London–Heathrow), Lufthansa (Frankfurt), Air France (Paris–Charles de Gaulle), KLM (Amsterdam), and South African Airways. The airport also serves significant pilgrimage traffic to Saudi Arabia during Hajj season via Saudia, Max Air, and chartered operations. The airfield operates a single asphalt runway — 04/22 at 11,842 ft (3,609 m) — capable of supporting full widebody and four-engine operations. A new international terminal opened in 2018 under Chinese EPC contracting as part of a broader Nigerian airport-modernization program, significantly expanding capacity and separating international operations from the historical 1980s terminal now dedicated to domestic traffic. ABV suffered a six-week runway closure in 2017 for complete resurfacing — during which all traffic was temporarily relocated to Kaduna with bus transfers to Abuja — a notable recent chapter in African aviation operational continuity.

Global route network

Every direct destination, colour-coded by distance

Most popular route
ABV → LOS
239 observed departures
Longest route
ABV → DOH
5,022 km
Countries reached
16
Via direct passenger flights

Where can I fly from here?

Top direct destinations, sorted by daily frequency

LOS short
Ikeja
NG
239 /day 12 airlines
PHC short
Port Harcourt
NG
72 /day 9 airlines
KAN short
Kano
NG
40 /day 7 airlines
BNI short
Benin City
NG
32 /day 4 airlines
ENU short
Enugu
NG
28 /day 3 airlines
ABB short
Delta state
NG
25 /day 3 airlines
SKO short
Sokoto
NG
23 /day 5 airlines
QOW short
Owerri
NG
23 /day 2 airlines
QUO short
Oron
NG
21 /day 1 airlines
YOL short
Yola
NG
18 /day 3 airlines
QRW short
Osubi
NG
17 /day 4 airlines
LHR long
London
GB
16 /day 2 airlines

Track new routes from ABV

Get notified when airlines add new destinations, resume seasonal services, or launch direct flights from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Flight tracking, alerts, and full route history live on AirportRoutes.com.

Airport data

Authoritative facts sourced from the airport authority

Elevation
1,123 ft (342 m)
Above sea level
Runways
1 · 11,842 ft max
1 runway, ASP
Passengers
5.5M/yr
Reported 2024
Airlines
25 carriers
P4 · UN · N2
Hub status
Mega-hub
Multi-airline hub
Area
Data Coming Soon
Total airport area

Beyond the major hubs

ABV also serves 20 regional airports across 1 country — secondary cities, islands, and niche destinations not ranked on BigAirports.

20
Regional airports
1
Countries served
13
Airlines operating
368
Observed flights
AirportRoutes.com

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Getting to the airport

Ground transport options from Abuja

Public transportation

The Abuja Light Rail connects ABV to the Abuja Metro Station in the Central Business District via a dedicated airport branch, providing an affordable and traffic-free route to the city center. The rail link was inaugurated in 2018 as the first urban rail system in West Africa. Service frequency has varied with rolling-stock availability and is best confirmed on arrival; fares are NGN 600–900 depending on zones. This is the most economical option where service is operating. Informal minibus transport also runs from the airport outer approach but is not recommended for most visitors.

Taxis & rideshare

Official airport taxis are available outside the arrivals hall; fares are typically negotiated rather than metered, with travelers strongly advised to confirm the total price before starting the trip. Typical fares run NGN 10,000–20,000 (USD 8–15) to central Abuja (Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro; 40–60 min) and proportionally more for further destinations. Ride-hailing services Uber and Bolt are widely used in Abuja and operate at ABV, generally providing more transparent pricing via in-app booking. Many hotels also provide pre-arranged pickup services.

Rental cars

Several car rental agencies maintain counters in the arrivals hall, including international brands Avis and Hertz alongside Nigerian operators. Pre-booking is advised to secure availability and rates. Renting a car together with a local driver (chauffeur-driven rental) is a common and often preferred option for visitors given Abuja's varied driving conditions, occasional security considerations, and the complexity of navigating the capital's distinctive radial street grid. A valid driver license, passport, and credit card are required for self-drive rentals.

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