Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport (french: link=no, Aéroport international de Yaoundé-Nsimalen) , also known as Nsimalen airport, is the second busiest and largest public airport in

Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...

. The airport is located 27 km (16 miles) south of the capital Yaounde, near Nsimalen in Cameroon's Centre Province.

History

Starting operations in 1991, Nsimalen was built to supersede the old international airport in Yaounde that was getting absorbed by the rapid growth of the city, it was also too close to the oil deposits of SCDP ("Société Camerounaise de Dépôts Pétroliers" or ''Cameroon Oil Storage Company''). This former international airport of Yaounde now serves as an

airbase An air base (sometimes referred to as a military air base, military airfield, military airport, air station, naval air station, air force station, or air force base) is an aerodrome used as a military base by a military force for the operation ...

for the air force of Cameroon. In 2004, the Nsimalen airport served 190,487 passengers. Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport has 14 direct flights to 11 countries. It is also the

focus city An airline hub or hub airport is an airport used by one or more airlines to concentrate passenger traffic and flight operations. Hubs serve as transfer (or stop-over) points to help get passengers to their final destination. It is part of the ...

for the most popular airline in Cameroon,

Camair-Co The Cameroon Airlines Corporation, trading as Camair-Co, is an airline from Cameroon, serving as flag carrier of the country, a role which was previously filled by the now-defunct Cameroon Airlines. Camair-Co has its headquarters in the Immeubl ...

, successor to the defunct

Cameroon Airlines Cameroon Airlines was an airline from Cameroon, serving as flag carrier of the country. Based in Douala, it operated scheduled services within Africa, as well as to Europe and the Middle East out of its hub at Douala International Airport,Flight ...

. The airport's growth of international traffic is 4% per year. The government has set a goal of servicing 1.5 million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo per year.

Facilities

Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport covers 3,065 acres (1240 ha) at an elevation of 694 m (2 276 ft), and includes one passenger terminal, one cargo terminal and 6 aircraft stands. Nsimalen airport currently has one runway: heading 01/19, 3,400 m (11 154 ft) in length, with a width of 45 m (147 ft), which could accommodate a

Boeing 747 The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2022. After introducing the 707 in October 1958, Pan Am wanted a jet times its size, t ...

. Nsimalen International Airport is equipped with modern facilities and can be accessed through four gates. It has six parking facilities, two of which are for long term use. Inside the terminal there are 10 check-in desks, currency exchange office, post office, restaurants, tourist information centre, business centre, banks and car rental and taxi services. Cargo facilities are equipped with a 1,839 m² (19 794 sq ft) warehouse, twelve 747 Freighter docks, a transit zone, animal quarantine, health office, X-ray/handling/mechanical equipment and refrigerated storage.

Airlines and destinations

;Notes : Brussels Airlines' flight to Brussels from Yaounde stops in Douala, but the airline does not have eight freedom rights on the Yaounde and Douala sector.

Accidents and incidents

The following accidents and incidents occurred either at the airport, or involved aircraft from the airport. *On 30 August 1984,

Cameroon Airlines Flight 786 Cameroon Airlines Flight 786 was a Boeing 737-2H7C, registration TJ-CBD, operating as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Douala International Airport, Cameroon ( ICAO: FKKD), to Garoua via Yaoundé. On 30 August 1984, as the aircraft w ...

, a

Boeing 737-200 The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Boeing Renton Factory, Renton Factory in Washington (state), Washington. Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the Boeing 707, 7 ...

registered as (TJ-CBD), experienced an engine malfunction when

taxiing Taxiing (rarely spelled taxying) is the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or pushback where the aircraft is moved by a tug. The aircraft usually moves on wheels, but the term also includes aircra ...

Douala International Airport MD-Douala International Airport (french: link=no, Aéroport international MD-Douala) is an international airport located in Douala, the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region. With its 4 terminals and an averag ...

prior to departure for Yaounde. A fire from the damaged fuel tank engulfed the aircraft causing it to burn out. Two passengers were trapped by the flames and died. The remaining 107 passengers and seven crew members were able to evacuate the plane safely. *On 28 June 1989, a Cameroon Airlines

Hawker Siddeley HS 748 The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is a medium-sized turboprop airliner originally designed and initially produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro. It was the last aircraft to be developed by Avro prior to its absorption by Hawker Siddeley. ...

plane from

Bafoussam Bafoussam is the capital and largest city of the West Region of Cameroon, in the Bamboutos Mountains. It is the 3rd most important (financially) city in Cameroon, after Yaoundé and Douala. The ''communauté urbaine'' (Urban Community) of Bafous ...

registered as (TJ-CCF) overshot the runway by 43 m upon landing in stormy weather at Yaounde International Airport following a scheduled flight from Douala and collided with an embankment, killing the two pilots and one of the 45 passengers on board.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport Airports in Cameroon Buildings and structures in Yaoundé