Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Kinshasa N’djili Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
upon getting to the airport we were told that yes, we had confirmed the flight, but not the seats. Apparently that is two completely separate things. – Melissa
FIH Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Kinshasa N’djili Airport.
What to Expect
Kinshasa Airport (code: FIH) has two terminals: an older domestic building and a brand new international terminal. Facilities are reportedly cleaner and security processes are less chaotic than past years, but corruption among airport staff is still a possibility. Inside the international terminal, you’ll find an expensive landside restaurant, an airside cafeteria, and a few shops. WiFi is available in two airport lounges, which economy class passengers can pay to enter. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.
Sleeping in Kinshasa Airport
Sleeping here overnight is not possible as the airport closes nightly from 12:00AM until 6:00PM. For uninterrupted sleep, the closest hotels are in the Kinshasa city center. See our Airport Hotels section below for more info or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.
Covid-19 Update
Some airport reviews and tips in this guide and elsewhere on the site were written before March 2020 and may no longer be valid. To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our Kinshasa Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!
- VIP Commercial Lounge – Location: Airside. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
- VIP Saloon Okapi – Location: Airside. Notes: A user tell us that the facilities are “Dirty, poor and limited service despite a lot of personnel.” Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
Related Pages: Kinshasa Airport Lounges
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are several small budget hotels near N’djili Airport. For more comfort, you are better off staying in Kinshasa, which is a 45 minute + drive away. Visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Kinshasa, search deals and read traveller reviews.
Airport WiFi/Internet
WiFi is available at Kinshasa Airport inside the lounges. As of this update we were unable to confirm whether internet access is available elsewhere in the terminal. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. US dollars and Euros are dispensed. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Location: Main Hall (Landside) and Departures Lounge.
Currency Exchange – Currency exchange services are available at BIAC and Rawbank agencies. Location and Hours: unknown.
Food & Drinks – There are no 24-hour food concessions, but you will find a few options open during flight operational hours.
» Landside: restaurant operated by Grand Hotel during airport opening hours. Count on 35 $ for a mediocre breakfast (dry bread, poor coffee).
» Airside: small cafetaria operated by RVA (Regie des Voies Aerienne) during the opening hours of the airport. Serves food (chicken or sausage with floppy fries) and local drinks.
Information Desk – Available in the main lobby. Hours: unknown.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – Not available. Watch your personal belongings at all times, especially during check-in and (manual) baggage control.
Mobile Charging – At the time of this update, we did not have any information about mobile charging availability. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Postal Services – Drop off your last minute postcards and more at the airport’s post office. Location and hours: unknown.
Rest Zones – There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Showers – Not available. Restrooms on land and airside are in disrepair and dirty. No running water.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 6:00AM – 12:00AM.
Airlines
Kinshasa airport is served by the following airlines: ASKY • Air Cote D’Ivoire • Air France • Brussels Airlines • Congo Airways • Ethiopian Airlines • Fly CAA • Kenya Airways • Royal Air Maroc • RwandAir • South African Airways • TAAG Angola Airlines • Turkish Airlines.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport
Bus
There is a Transco bus stop at FIH airport. Further information is not known. Shuttle buses also serve the airport. Inquire at the Information Desk.
Car Rentals
Car rental is available at Kinshasa Airport. No further information is available at this time.
Hotel Shuttles
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available for hire in the ground transportation area. Prices must be negotiated before entering the taxi. The airport suggests that a ride to Kinshasa can range from US$20 to US$50 depending on where and when you are travelling.
Last updated: 2022-10-31
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, are subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers and their web sites. We are not representatives of any of the above mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.
