Africa: The tiny airport that’s one of the world’s smallest but has international flights | World | News

Africa has many large international airports, catering to millions of travellers from all over the world.

The continent’s biggest airport is Tambo International Airport in South Africa.

The air hub is not only the largest in Africa in terms of passenger traffic but also one of the busiest airports globally.

Serving Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic capital, it handles over 21 million passengers annually.

Yet Africa also has many smaller airports, no less important to the continent’s general transport infrastructure.

Perhaps one of the world’s smallest airports is located in Lesotho, a high-altitude landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa.

Lesotho’s international airport is named Moshoeshoe I, after the country’s first king who died at the ripe old age of 84 in 1870.

The airport is located near the town of Mazenod, approximately 20 kilometres south of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho.

It has two passenger terminals, as well as one for cargo and two runways, the longest of which measures 10476 × 148 feet. 

As the country has had no official state airline of its own since 1997, international flights are mainly operated by South African Airways to Johannesburg.

Domestic flights are operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship and Mountain Airways.

The airport scores three out of five in a customer satisfaction survey, receiving some mixed reviews.

Sebastian H. wrote: “The Airport is small, which of course is not a problem. 

“However, the stores at the Airport (Vodacom, Banks, etc.) are largely abandoned, even if a flight comes in.

“You may or may not be lucky and be able to buy a sim card at the AP. Service in this area basically non existent.

“Furthermore, the main building could do with a bit of TLC , some paint here and there and the rotten ceiling tiles could be replaced…maybe. The staff is generally friendly though.”