The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, recorded 4.3 million international passengers in 2024, marking a 6.5% increase from 4.04 million in 2023, according to new data from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Gatekeepers News reports that international cargo traffic also rose significantly, climbing 11.31% to 150 million kilograms from 135 million kilograms in 2023. International aircraft movements reached 40,250 flights, up 7.69% from 37,375 the previous year.
The data, compiled under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) State Profile framework, confirmed MMIA’s status as Nigeria’s busiest airport and the country’s central hub for international travel and cargo.
However, domestic operations painted a different picture. Passenger traffic dropped by 6.46% to 12.5 million in 2024 from 13.37 million in 2023, while domestic aircraft movements fell 6.81% to 125,000 flights from 134,000.
Airport officials told Nairametrics that the decline was largely due to the naira devaluation, which increased the cost of sourcing spare parts and aviation fuel. The suspension of Dana Air also contributed after one of its aircraft skidded off the Lagos runway in April 2024.
On the cargo side, outbound shipments were dominated by Nigerian foodstuffs, while inbound cargo was led by point-of-sale (POS) machines from China.
Despite the mixed performance, MMIA remained at the heart of FAAN’s modernization strategy, with plans focused on enhancing safety, digital transformation, and passenger experience.
Revenue from MMIA operations remained heavily skewed toward aeronautical sources, which contributed about 92% of earnings, compared to 8% from non-aeronautical sources.
Regionally, African airlines posted stronger growth. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a 13.2% increase in international passenger traffic across the continent in 2024, more than double MMIA’s 6.5% growth.
