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Modibo Keita International Airport
Bamako, Mali
Modibo Keita International Airport
Mali's primary international gateway in West Africa.
- ›Named after Modibo Keita, Mali's first post-independence president.
- ›Located approximately 15 km southwest of central Bamako.
- ›A new passenger terminal was inaugurated in 2019 to expand capacity.
- ›The airport serves as the primary hub for domestic and international flights in Mali.
- ›ICAO code GABS reflects its location in the Bamako region of Mali.
Modibo Keita International Airport, named after Mali's first president, serves as the primary international gateway to Bamako, the bustling capital on the banks of the Niger River. Originally built during the colonial era and progressively modernized, the airport handles the bulk of Mali's international and domestic air traffic. Despite the country's complex security environment, the airport remains a critical hub connecting Mali to West African neighbors and major European cities.
- Main Terminal — A single integrated terminal handling both international and domestic departures and arrivals, with basic amenities and immigration facilities.
- Taxis from the official taxi rank outside arrivals — negotiate fare before boarding
- Private hire vehicles and pre-booked hotel transfers
- Minibus shared taxis (sotrama) running into central Bamako
- Car rental desks available inside the terminal from select local operators
- Radisson Blu Hotel Bamako
- Hotel Laico El Farouk Bamako
- Azalaï Hotel Bamako
- Hotel Salam
- Grand Hotel de Bamako
Dining options inside the terminal are limited, with a small café and basic snack counters serving local and continental food. Outside the airport perimeter, Bamako offers a rich array of Malian cuisine including tiga dege na (peanut stew) and grilled fish from Niger River vendors. Travelers are advised to carry some local currency (West African CFA franc) as card payment acceptance in airport eateries can be inconsistent.
- Carry small denominations of West African CFA francs for taxis and tips, as change is often scarce.
- Confirm your ground transport arrangement with your hotel in advance, as unofficial taxi touts can be persistent at arrivals.
- Arrive well ahead of departure — security checks can be lengthy and queues unpredictable during peak travel times.
- Check current travel advisories from your government before visiting, as the security situation in Mali can change rapidly.
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Modibo Keita International Airport is an international airport serving Bamako, the capital of Mali. It is located approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Bamako city centre. It is managed by Aéroports du Mali (ADM). Its operations are overseen by the Malian Ministry of Equipment and Transport.
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