Abidjan Airport
Lasting Impressions....
Quick Reference Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date info:
- bucket seats at the gates
- missing benches at check-in
- the words "sphincter" and "rectum" have been used to describe the people that run this airport
- an overnight stay might be impossible here
- the restaurant receives good reviews
A few airport reviews from the archives
by Conal Ho, 17 Aug 2005
"In the West Africa sub-region, Abidjan's Houphet-Boigny airport must be one of the best. I was truly impressed to see an airport of this style and maintenance in the sub-region. The security staff are really helpful and very friendly which I found amazing considering that that usually isn't the case in rest of the sub-region where most uniformed personnel feel they have made it and want to display their authority. On the contrary, in this airport, the immigration officers and security officers were very nice.The restaurant is very nice and twice I spent almost 10 hours there sitting, eating, and mostly just conversing with two other scholars and one traditional leader (chief). The seats in the restaurant are cushioned but the backs are wooden. The seats by the gates are all hard plastic bucket types. Aside from these two types of seating arrangements, there's nothing else. Well, there is a VIP lounge with sofa seats but you'd have to have a voucher or be at a certain level of membership in a frequent flyer programme to use it. So, that was the only major negative point about this airport. It would be nice to have more comfortable seats there were not all just facing the restaurant."
by ?
Though this airport terminal is a brand new and sparkling facility, the petty power freaks here manage to completely ruin the place. I can't possibly think of the politest word for them; probably a toss-up between "sphincter" or "rectum". It is indeed sad as other airports in West Africa are nowhere as nice as this one in Abidjan...but good luck in getting past these officials! If by some miraculous act you manage to get on the good side of these morons, this place can be quite nice...there is even a hotel inside the terminal (again, IF you can get to it.) As far as overnighting for free anywhere in the airport, move on. There's no chance in hell that's possible here. Also, just because there is so much police presence, it does not at all correlate with safety. I was amazed at the fact that not once was my small carry on bag x-rayed or manually checked. Sure, they have x-ray machines before you board, but for whatever reason, not all bags are checked...I could have easily brought anything on that plane! Again, quite sad since airports not only in this region, but anywhere in the third world are nowhere as nice as this one. It is just simply in the wrong hands.
