Côte d’Ivoire: new financing to develop Felix Houphouët-Boigny d’Abidjan Airport

Aeria is the concession company for Felix Houphouët-Boigny d’Abidjan Airport. With 1.8 million passengers in 2016, the airport in Abidjan is a major airport in West Africa and the only airport in the region to receive the A380.

Since the end of the political crisis in 2011, the airport in Abidjan has experienced an annual growth in traffic of some 16%. Felix Houphouët-Boigny has consequently become the 3rd largest airport in West Africa – with 1.8 million passengers in 2016 – and is the only airport in the region to receive the A380. However, some of its facilities are saturated during peak hours.
Aeria is launching a new EUR 63m investment program, in partnership with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, which aims to relieve congestion at the airport and increase its capacity. The program provides for the construction of 10 parking stands for short and medium-haul aircraft, the extension of the existing long-haul parking area, and the construction of a taxiway parallel to the runway, which will triple the runway’s capacity at peak hours. A first extension phase for the terminal is also planned in this program.

By facilitating the flow of people, capital and goods, the airline sector plays a crucial role in the growth of a country's trade, tourism and international investment.
Consequently, the development of the airport in Abidjan will have major socioeconomic benefits: over the next 5 years, the project is expected to contribute to maintaining or creating over 3,700 jobs in Côte d’Ivoire. Aeria’s activity will also contribute to a EUR 205m increase in national GDP by 2021 through the salaries paid, the profits made, and the taxes and royalties paid to the State.
Finally, with this new credit line, PROPARCO will be continuing to support Aeria in improving its management of the environmental and social risks related to its activity.