Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport (French: Aéroport international de Yaoundé-Nsimalen) (IATA: NSI, ICAO: FKYS), also known as Nsimalen airport, is the second busiest and largest public airport in Cameroon. 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 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 for the most popular airline in Cameroon, Camair-Co, successor to the defunct Cameroon Airlines. 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.
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.