Kinshasa Airport

Customer Reviews

No Skytrax Rating
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Queuing Times 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Staff 12345
Customer rating from 14 reviews
5/10
No Skytrax Rating
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6/10

"new airport layout a great improvement"

(United Kingdom)

Not Verified | Arrival was a very good experience as the new airport layout is a great improvement. Departure was problematic. I have always used Brussels Airlines which allows you to check in a dedicated facility in the city. This time I was with Kenya Airlines and the check in process was chaotic with only one small kiosk and many people with no idea of a queue trying to check in. Once through into the departure lounge things improved greatly and the business class lounge was a revelation: comfortable, air conditioned and well appointed.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitMarch 2024
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
Airport Staff 12345
no
9/10

"what a lovely surprise awaited me"

(Israel)

Verified Review | I read horror stories and read terrible reviews about Kinshasa (FIH) Ndjilli Airport. I was very nervous about going through there. What a lovely surprise awaited me. A brand new terminal, clean, bright, air conditioned well (a big plus in Africa) all employees well dressed and polite. Procedures took time and were very detailed, but nothing out of the ordinary. You don't really need to pay a VIP service to go through, you will be OK on your own. Make sure all your travel documents and stay details ready for inspection.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitSeptember 2016
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
8/10

"very bright and clean"

(Belgium)

I had read the worst reviews about N'Djili International Airport, and did not exactly look forward to the experience of arriving and departing there. But my hopes were set on some other articles I had found about a new international terminal that opened end of 2015, built by Chinese contractors. I must say the new terminal, the staff working there, and the guarded parking and drop-off areas in front of it are exceptionally good. It is a small but very bright and clean building. Customs officers are professional and nice to the passengers, same applies to security staff at X-ray machines, and where one must pay for an "exit visa" when leaving DRCongo. Air-conditionong works well, and there is a nice business class lounge. Do not expect any shopping outlets, there is only one bar but the latter can easily compare to those in the better European airports. Thumbs up for the new terminal, hope it stays like it is today. The road from the airport to downtown Kinshasa was also completely refurbishes, good pavement, lighting at night. Travel times to/from the airport to the embassies area of the capital are now only 1h, to be compared to 3-4h a few years ago I was said.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitMarch 2016
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
4/10

Kinshasa Airport customer review

(United Kingdom)

Having got past the x-ray machine you arrive in a large circular domed room with a balcony. Its very noisy and the only shops are the other side of a partition which you can no longer access. There appear to be no facilities but at the far end of the room from the entrance between the gift stall and the DGM control is a staircase. Go up the stairs and you will find toilets and just past these a decent restaurant overlooking the ramp. Prices are not cheap $5 for a coke but there's no 'helpers' to hassle you and its calm compared with the waiting are in the domed building. Beware engaging with the locals even if they look official in a hi vis vest as suddenly they will ask for $ for assistance. Also remember to pay your departure Tax ($50) at the DGM office near the entrance well before departure time as this can be very busy make sure you retain the pink receipt which you will need to hand over before getting on the aircraft. Having got out onto the ramp the airline will carryout a bag search of all hand baggage.
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
no
1/10

Kinshasa Airport customer review

(South Africa)

Getting into Kinshasa is quite OK getting out is something else. The airlines don't/can't have their own staff at the terminal all the flights (Kenya South African Ethiopian) are handled by the same slow and unfriendly personnel. There is now an official exit tax of $50 plus a couple of minor unofficial ones. Airport is gloomy very little seating nothing to do except worry about what is going to happen next. VIP exit lounge while hardly Heathrow is clean and bright and you get a free drink well worth the extra $30. Even if you speak French don't even contemplate going to Kinshasa unless your host/hotel sends a "protocol" to meet you at the airport and escort you out. Be sure to stock up with US $5 bills for unofficial taxes - they won't take less and they don't expect more. On a more positive note it is irritating rather than frightening and once you're through the airport everybody is pleasant and everything is fine.
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
no
2/10

Kinshasa Airport customer review

(United Kingdom)

Not much has changed. They are now using buses to take you to/from the aircraft - a backwards step in my view. The 100m walk from the aircraft was a relief after the flight. No real problems arriving. It may help to have someone meet you (called airport protocol) if it is your first visit. Check in can now be done at the airline offices in town if you can finish work early enough. This can save a lot of hassle at the airport. The business lounge is in poor condition now. The air conditioning is near non existent.
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
no
2/10

Kinshasa Airport customer review

Ndjili is certainly an experience. Arrival was reasonably smooth (and would have been smoother if South African had actually had some landing cards). Departure is a bit of a performance with any number of checks and people with different rubber stamps involved. Check-in is entirely a manual process with hand-written baggage labels and seating worked out usually a hand-drawn grid representing the cabin. But it all seems to work. You need to identify your baggage walking out to the aircraft and final security check is at the foot of the aeroplane steps. At no point did anyone approach me looking for bribes although that might have been because I had a local escort provided by my employer.
no
na

Kinshasa Airport customer review

I travelled in and out of N'Djili with SN Brussels in August. Its reputation seems ill-deserved. Yes it was a bit chaotic but not very intimidating. I didn't have to hand over any "tips" going in or going out. Check-in for the departing flight was downtown which made life easier. The departure lounge was adequate with a small snack bar. They are building a new duty-free shop. Be aware that the final passport check and hand baggage check is at the plane steps. There are all sorts of odd people wandering around at this stage so keep a close eye on your hand luggage when you leave it for checking.
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na

Kinshasa Airport customer review

The airport is not as bad as some of the earlier reports suggest. Having a local guide meet you and handle the formalities will help a lot. Most people hand over their passports tickets and baggage to these people and allow them to sort out the problems.
no
na

Kinshasa Airport customer review

David De Beer needs to visit other airports in Africa if he thinks Kinshasa is the worst. With most African airports you will get hassled either by baggage handlers customs or the "Document man" who guide you through the complicated checking in process. At Kinshasa ensure you have 2 x $20.00 notes in your pocket and nothing else. Each person in the customs line will insist on opening your bags unless you "dib" them so don't bother packing nicely when you leave the hotel (Memling is the best). Let the first two officials rumble through your smalls without payment and the others don't bother when they see you haven't handed over the dosh. The $20.00 is for the document man who takes over as you arrive at the terminal. Let him take over otherwise you will be there for ages he sorts all the tickets out baggage etc and will ask for $100.00 for his trouble and $100.00 for his sidekick who carries the bags. he always asks for this whilst he has your boarding cards ans passports in his hand so take out the $40.00 and show him your empty pockets. Also don't count on asking for leg-room or aisle seats be grateful for anything as they can seem to be overbooked this is another scam to get money from you don't offer money if they say overbooked stand your ground. Try Lubumbashi Kitwe or Lusaka airports for a real fun time!
no
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