Air Services

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​​Banjul International Airport - BIA - is located in Yundum about 24km from Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia. As a state owned institution, the airport is managed and operated by Gambia Civil Aviation Authority.​
In its drive to conform to international standard, The Gambia Government is ready to attend to the challenges facing the aviation industry in the sub region and the world at large by opening up its skies to potential investors. The airport has undertaken a significant transformation despite being faced with a competitive air transport market and considerable growth in air traffic demand. The Authority continues to invest heavily on human capital, equipment, airport infrastructure and safety as stipulated in the ICAO Convention and Technical Annexes.

BIA is committed to providing a high quality service to its passengers, through offering a wide range of destinations and services. In order to provide this increased choice and convenience for passengers, BIA actively encourages airlines and tour operators to introduce new services and destinations and to develop and grow their existing operations from this airport.
To support this growth and development, the airport offers discounts on its published fees and charges. Discounts are available to all existing and potential airlines and tour operators wishing to increase their services or commence operations from the airport.

Aerodrome Data

  • Name: Banjul International Airport
  • Location: 24km from the city of Banjul
  • WGS 184 co-ordinates (aerodrome reference point)
  • Latitude 13 20 33.0821 North
  • Longitude 016 39 28.1307 West
  • AD Elevation: 95 feet AMSL
  • Runway Length: 3.6 km
  • Orientation: 321º  141º
  • Pavement classification: PCN 80
  • Runway Directions: 32/14
  • Instrument Runways / Rwy 32

Flight Connections with Major West African Cities

  • Abidjan - 2 hrs 30 mins
  • Accra - 3hrs
  • Bissau - 20 mins
  • Conakry - 50 mins
  • Dakar - 25 mins
  • Freetown - 50 mins
  • Lagos - 2 hrs 30 mins
  • Lome - 3 hrs 15 mins
  • Nouakchott - 1 hr 30 mins

​International Compliance and Recognition

  • ICAO
  • FAA
  • Existing BIA Facilities and  Current Capacity
  • New Pax Terminal Building – 1million pax throughput annually
  • Runway – 3.6 km long, 22 movements/hr
  • Apron – 45000  sq.m-6 wide-bodied and 4 narrow-bodied aircraft or 4 wide-bodied and 8 narrow-bodied aircraft
  • Single Exit Taxiway
  • Fire Fighting and Rescue Services – Cat 9
  • Three aviation fuel suppliers – Galp, Total & Castle
  • Radio Navigation & Communication Facilities
  • Infrastructural Developments
  • New Control Tower Building
  • New Passenger Terminal Building
  • Back up Power Improvement
  • Dual Carriage Airport Access Road
  • Management information system and setting up of airport LAN/WAN
  • Improvement of Passenger Terminal Facility
  • Apron Expansion  Lot 2 of the Airport Improvement Project
  • New Fire Tender vehicle, Fire Fighting & First Aid Equipmeny and Hydrants including training

​Requirements for an Air Services License

As per requirements under the Air Service Licensing Regulations, 1979, the following accompanying documents must be submitted with the application for an Air Service License:

  • AIR OPERATOR’S CERTIFICATE covering all aircraft types to be operated
  • CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION for each aircraft to be operated
  • CERTIFICATE OF AIRWORTHINESS for each aircraft to be operated
  • CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE covering all aircraft to be operated including Third Party Liability Coverage.
  • SECURITY MANUAL covering airline’s security program
  • REPORT OF BASE INSPECTION after safety audit has been completed by GCAA Flight Safety Personnel
  • COPIES OF LEASE AGREEMENTS (if applicable)
  • Report indicating availability of financial resources and composition of CAPITAL (if applicable)
  • FEASIBILITY STUDIES and PROJECT DOCUMENT (if applicable)

Please note that these requirements are also contained in GCAA Air Service License Application Form FSS-GEN-Form 005, which is available upon request.
Furthermore, note that obtaining an Air Service License is a pre-requisite for airlines that intend to operate commercially, however it does not by itself give one the right to operate.

​Compliance Status  - Flight Safety and Aviation Security
FAA: Formal aviation security assessment of BIA by the FAA for the certification as last point of departure for flights to USA - June 2000. FAA Finding: “at BIA, effective security measures were being practised in accordance with the standards and recommended practices contained in Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.”

Incentives for Airlines at Banjul International Airport

Home Based Carriers – Airlines using BIA, as their base will receive 50% discount on all airport charges. i.e. landing, parking and lighting charges for the first quarter of operations with an indefinite free parking.​

  • Regional Carriers – A permanent 10% discount on all posted airport user charges i.e. landing, parking and lighting.

  • Long Haul Carriers – 10% discount on all posted airport user charges i.e. landing, parking and lighting for additional frequency in addition to the first.

  • Summer Operations – 50% discount on all airport user charges i.e. landing parking and lighting to support the year round tourism.

  • In-Flight Catering – 10% Discount for the first six months of operations.

  • 100% discount on landing and parking fees for startup carriers for the first six months of operations and 50% discount on landing and parking thereafer for the subsequent six months of operation.

  • 50% discount on landing and parking for non schedule flights (chartered) during summer to support all year round tourism.

  • Further discount may be offered to airlines for additional frequencies.

All the above are reviewed periodically.

Procedures For The Operation Of Air Services Into BIA

Scheduled Air Service: Air service open to the general public and operated according to a published timetable or with such a regular frequency that it constitutes an easily recognisable systematic series of flights  For scheduled air service operations, the airline should be designated to The Gambia by its state of registration and ownership, through the normal diplomatic channels as per the Bilateral Air Service Agreement signed between that State and The Gambia.  Once the designation process is finalised, the airline should apply for a Gambia Air Service License (ASL) from the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority as well as submit all required documents upon application. The operational base of the airline shall also be inspected by Aviation Safety Inspectors from the GCAA. The ASL is issued when all supporting documents are vetted and satisfied with and upon receipt of comprehensive and positive base inspection report of the airline. The ASL is signed by the Minister of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure.

For non scheduled including tour charter operations, the airline does not need to be designated to The Gambia. However, the process for the application for and acquisition of an ASL remain the same as that of scheduled air service operators described above.
​For more information about air transport, please visit the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority. 

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