Burkina Faso: New Boarding Lounge at Ouagadougou International Airport Increases Capacity to 200 Passengers
The Ouagadougou International Airport has expanded its passenger handling capacity with the inauguration of a new R+1 boarding lounge. The upgrade is designed to ease passenger flows and modernize border processing as regional air traffic gradually stabilizes.
Operational Expansion at Ouagadougou International Airport
On 7 February 2026, the Minister of State in charge of Territorial Administration and Mobility, Emile Zerbo, officially inaugurated the new R+1 boarding lounge at Ouagadougou International Airport.
The new facility provides:
- 200 expandable seats
- Modern waiting areas
- Upgraded police control posts aligned with international standards
The objective is to better absorb peak traffic on regional and international routes, particularly across West Africa and major connection hubs.
Immediate Operational Impact on Passenger Flows
For Ouagadougou, the priority is both capacity and flow management.
The additional 200-seat lounge enables:
- Reduced congestion during peak boarding times
- Improved sequencing of simultaneous departures
- Faster processing at control checkpoints
In a demanding security and regulatory environment, upgraded control infrastructure is essential to maintain compliance with international aviation standards and sustain connectivity with regional and international carriers.
The new space also integrates a commercial area, including the launch of “Faso Free Shop,” offering duty-free products and locally sourced goods.
Progressive Modernisation of Burkina Faso’s Airport Network
Authorities confirmed that additional infrastructure projects are underway in:
- Bobo-Dioulasso
- Donsin
- Dori
- Fada N’Gourma
These investments aim to strengthen domestic connectivity and prepare for the gradual transition of operations to Donsin, which is expected to relieve capacity pressure at Ouagadougou in the medium term.
Why It Matters
- Immediate capacity increase: Better management of passenger peaks.
- Regulatory compliance: Modernized control posts aligned with international standards.
- Network strategy: Part of a broader national airport infrastructure upgrade.
Regional Perspective: Growing Pressure on West African Airport Infrastructure
Across West Africa, capital cities are upgrading terminal infrastructure to secure regional routes and attract additional airline frequencies.
For Burkina Faso, expanding capacity at Ouagadougou represents a strategic interim step while preparing Donsin to become the country’s primary aviation hub.
With the commissioning of the new R+1 boarding lounge, the Ouagadougou International Airport strengthens its operational capacity and improves passenger flow management. The upgrade forms part of a broader airport modernization strategy aimed at securing national and regional air connectivity.
