Melchior Ndadaye International Airport

Melchior Ndadaye International Airport is the main airport in Bujumbura, the economic capital of Burundi. It is the only international airport in the country and the only one with a paved runway. The airport is identified by the code BJM for flights and HBBA for air traffic control systems. It plays an important role in connecting Burundi to the rest of the world.

History

The airport opened in 1952. On July 1, 2019, it was renamed Melchior Ndadaye International Airport to honor the first person to be democratically elected as president of Burundi. Sadly, he was killed during a political takeover in October 1993, just three months after being elected. This sad event led to a long and difficult conflict in the country.

Location

Melchior Ndadaye International Airport is located in the far northwest part of Bujumbura Mairie Province. It is close to Bujumbura Rural Province to the north and west, the RN4 highway along Lake Tanganyika to the south, and the Mutimbuzi River and RN5 highway to the east. The Mpanda River, which flows into the Ruzizi River, passes near the airport’s northern end.

In 2018, work began to clear and deepen the Mutimbuzi River to stop flooding at the airport. In 2021, there was a risk that the Mpanda River might break through a dam protecting the airport. Starting in August 2024, the airport began a big project to make it bigger, better, and more modern. This project will happen in two steps. The first step includes extending the runway, fixing areas where planes move and park, and building a new control tower with special equipment. The second step will add more updates, such as building a new passenger terminal and other important buildings.

Airlines and destinations

As of December 2018, several airlines offered regular flights to Melchior Ndadaye International Airport in Bujumbura, Burundi. This airport is the main international airport in the country and has a paved runway for planes.

The airport serves both passengers and cargo flights.