Kotoka International Airport (IATA: ACC; ICAO: DGAA) is located in Accra, the capital of Ghana. The international airport has the capacity for large aircraft like Boeing 747-8. The airport is about 10km from the centre of Accra. It is the largest airport in Ghana.
Kotoka international airport, formerly known as Accra International Airport, was in 1969 renamed in honour of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka who was killed at the current forecourt location of the airport. ?Accra airport before its renaming originally served as a military airport used during World War II in 1946 by the British Royal Air Force. The airport was handed over for civilian operations and Ghana Airways used the airport as its first base in 1958.
Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) administers the airport. The company is responsible for planning, developing, managing and maintaining all airports and aerodromes in Ghana including Kotoka International Airport, Kumasi International Airport, Sunyani Airport, and Takoradi Airport.
Africa World Airlines, Starbow Airlines and Antrak Air use Kotoka International Airport as the base for operating domestic and international flights out of Ghana. The airport receives more than 2.5 million passengers annually.
The Kotoka International Airport has currency exchange offices and ATM or cash machines at the Arrivals terminal. The currency in use at the airport in Ghana is the Ghana Cedi (GHS). There are several business lounges in Kotoka international airport where departures can relax while waiting for scheduled departure time.
Arrivals in Accra can visit amazing places and enjoy life to the fullest with the numerous tourism potentials and great culture and traditions of the city. Significant places near Kotoka International Airport includes Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park, the Independence Square, ?the National Theatre, Jamestown, Osu Castle, Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshops, and Labadi Beach.
Airport Terminals:?
The Airport has 2 passenger terminals, tagged Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 respectively. An internal walkway links the two terminals.
Terminal 1 serves domestic and regional airlines. It is used primarily for domestic and regional departures and arrivals.
Terminal 2 is primarily used by international and long-haul operators. Terminal 2, the principal international departure terminal includes restaurants duty-free shops and 2 business class lounges.
The VVIP terminal is used for diplomatic flights, while the military terminal is used for military operations. The State Protocol Lounge is used by senior Government Officials/Diplomats and VVIPS.
Terminal 3 of the airport is currently under construction to handle 5 million passengers a year. The new terminal is equipped with 3 business lounges, large commercial and retail area and six boarding gates. It will be completed in October?2017.
Airlines Operating From Kotoka International Airport
The following airlines operate scheduled domestic and international flights from Kotoka International Airport to different destinations in the world.
| Airlines |
Destinations |
| Ethiopian Airlines |
Addis Ababa |
| Kenya Airways |
Freetown,?Monrovia,?Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta |
| KLM |
Amsterdam |
| Med-View Airline |
Freetown,?Monrovia,?Lagos |
| Meridiana |
Milan-Malpensa |
| Middle East Airlines |
Abidjan,?Beirut |
| Royal Air Maroc |
Casablanca,?Freetown,?Monrovia |
| RwandAir |
Abidjan, Kigali |
| Starbow Airlines |
Kumasi,?Sunyani,?Takoradi,?Tamale |
| South African Airways |
Abidjan,?Johannesburg-OR Tambo,?Washington-Dulles |
| TAP Portugal |
Lisbon,?Lom?, S?o Tom? |
| Turkish Airlines |
Istanbul-Atat?rk |
Cargo Airlines operating from Kotoka International Airport
| Cargo Airlines in Kotoka International Airport |
Destinations |
| Ethiopian Airlines Cargo |
Lagos, Addis Ababa, Liege |
| Turkish Airlines Cargo |
Istanbul-Atat?rk, Maastricht/Aachen |
| Cargolux |
Luxembourg |
| Emirates SkyCargo |
Dubai-Al Maktoum |
| Qatar Airways Cargo |
Lagos, Doha |
| Swiftair |
Abidjan, Lagos |
Services, Facilities and Things to do at Kotoka International Airport
Communication: There is a paid for WiFi for internet access at the departures area of the Kotoka International Airport. Passengers can purchase vouchers in the airport shops. Card phones are located at several points throughout the terminal, and cards are available in the post office and shops. There is also a post office in the airport.
Food and drinks: Landing restaurant, Aerostar, Twinsti Restaurants
?and others?are available at the main terminal building at Kotoka International Airport. The bar and dining gallery inside the terminal offer post check-in meals ad drinks.
Bureau de Change: Currency exchange offices and ATM or cash machines are located at the Arrivals terminal
Shopping, and Business Centres: There are few shops at the airport selling basic needs, as well as a duty-free outlet. The business centre at the domestic terminal is accessible to both passengers and visitors, and it has photocopiers, telephones and fax machines.
Disabled Facilities: The disabled facilities at Kotoka International Airport are limited. Passengers should contact booked airlines for relevant information and wheelchair assistance.
Car Parking: The car is available 24-hours daily and can occupy 1000 cars.
Car Rental: Hire companies at the Kotoka International Airport are located outside the arrivals hall. Avis, Europcar and a number of local operators are present in the airport.
Other Facilities:?A passenger lounge, public telephone booths, a porter service desk and a lost-and-found office are located at the terminal. A police station, a medical clinic offering 24-hour medical and travel immunisation services are also available at the airport.
Flights from other Locations/Airports to Kotoka International Airport
There are more than 10 airlines flying into Kotoka International Airport from more than 40 destinations all over the world.
Flights land Kotoka International Airport from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Malabo International Airport, Lubumbashi International Airport, Cairo International Airport, Tripoli International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, O.R Tambo International Airport, Harare International Airport, O?Hare International Airport, King Fahd International Airport, King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport, and London Heathrow International Airport etc. Flights into the Kotoka International Airport takes about 6 to 15 hours depending on the distance and flight fares start from $180 to $1270.
Domestic flights from?Kumasi International Airport,?Sunyani International Airport, Sekondi-Takoradi International Airport,?Tamale Airport,?Navrongo Airport,?Wa Airport, and Yendi Airport also land at Kotoka International Airport.
Accra is easily accessible all year round due to its location at the Greenwich Meridian near the equator. Although it experiences equatorial climate, passengers can book flights to Kotoka International Airport all year round. The dry season is always the best time to tour Accra City when the rains have subsided.
Flights to Accra?should be booked at least 21 to 45 days in advance. The price of flights to Accra is more expensive during the festive season of Christmas.
Other Airports Close to Kotoka International Airport
Kumasi International Airport
Sunyani International Airport
Sekondi-Takoradi International Airport
Tamale Airport
Navrongo Airport
Wa Airport
Yendi Airport
Popular Airlines operating from Kotoka International Airport include?Ethiopian Airlines, Arik Air, Africa World Airlines, Air Peace, Kenya Airways, KLM, Med-View Airline, Meridiana, Royal Air Maroc, Iberia Airlines, RwandAir, Starbow Airlines, Kenyan Airways and South African Airways.
Moving From Kotoka International Airport to Accra
The fastest way of getting to Accra from Kotoka International Airport is through the taxis.
Taxi:?Taxis congregate at the western side of the main terminal building opposite the arrival foyer. International arrivals can pick a taxi.?Be ensure to ask for the taxi fare to your destination before boarding a taxi as the taxis are not metered. You can expect to pay 30 Ghana cedis for a trip.
Bus:?A number of hotels in Accra offer airport shuttle services for passengers. You can pre-book for airport pickup with your hotel.
Cost of Living in?Accra
Taxi is the major means of transportation in Ghana's capital city-Accra. The cost of a taxi on a business day starts from GH?46. Ensure you negotiate the taxi fare with the driver as the prices are not fixed.
| Items |
Price GH? |
| Basic dinner for 2 |
73 |
| Dinner for 2 at foreign restaurant |
229 |
| Lunchtime meal plus drink |
43 |
| Combo meal in fast food |
30 |
| 1 dozen egg |
12 |
| 1 bottle of Beer |
5.32 |
| 1 bottle of red wine |
26 |
| 2 litres of Coca-cola |
9 |
| Bread for 2 people |
5.42 |
| 1 pair of jeans |
172 |
| Haircut |
25 |
| 1-month gym membership |
312 |
Flights within The Various Airports in Ghana
Starbow, Africa World Airlines are the 2 major airlines operating scheduled domestic flights between the 4 major airports in Ghana-Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale and Accra.
| Domestic Destinations |
| Kumasi |
| Takoradi |
| Tamale |
International Flights to and From Accra
There are more than 10 airlines flying into Kotoka International Airport from more than 40 destinations all over the world. Some of the locations where airlines operate domestic and international flights to Kotoka International Airport are:
Africa: Lagos, Cairo, Cape Town, Harare, Malabo, Lubumbashi, Freetown, Monrovia, Abuja, Nairobi, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Casablanca, Kigali, Johannesburg, Sunyani, Sao Tome, Lome.
Europe: Lisbon, Beirut, Milan, Amsterdam.
USA: Washington DC.
The most popular international routes flown from Kotoka International Airport are:
| Destinations to Accra |
Flight Fare ($) ? Round Trip |
Flight Time |
| Lagos |
|
1 hour |
| Johannesburg |
731 |
13 hours 20 minutes |
| Washington DC |
1651 |
10 hours 20 minutes |
| Addis Ababa |
800 |
5 hours 40 minutes |
| Kigali |
517 |
11 hours 25 minutes |
| Istanbul |
818 |
19 hours 10 minutes |
| Cairo |
481 |
6 hours |
| Dubai |
646 |
10 hours 30 minutes |
| Milan |
656 |
10 hours |
| Amsterdam |
874 |
10 hours 15 minutes |
| Lisbon |
696 |
15 hours 10 minutes |
| London |
732 |
6?hours 45 minutes |
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