The Gambia’s Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure has issued an invitation for bids by 27 June for the expansion of Banjul International Airport, located in Yundum, approximately 24 kilometers southeast of the capital, Banjul.
The project aims to address growing air traffic demand that has led to congestion in both the passenger terminal and aircraft apron. Key elements of the development include the construction of a new terminal, rehabilitation of existing infrastructure such as the runway, and the addition of ancillary facilities to enhance safety, security, and efficiency in line with international aviation standards.
PPP framework
Planned under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework, the project will follow a design, build, finance, operate, maintain, and transfer (DBFOMT) model, with the transport ministry serving as the contracting authority.
Banjul International Airport, The Gambia’s only airport, commenced operations in 1997. It currently features a 3.6-kilometre runway, a terminal with an annual capacity of one million passengers, a control tower, and a 550-square metre freight centre.
The expansion aligns with the Gambia’s 2018–2027 national transport policy, which seeks to establish the airport as a regional transport hub in the medium term and an international gateway in the long term. Authorities also plan to transform the facility into a full-scale aerotropolis, leveraging undeveloped landside areas to attract private investment in real estate, hospitality, and related services.