Travelers from many African airports to the USA normally have to take connecting flights and contend with layovers in African or European hubs such as Casablanca, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Lisbon, Rome, Madrid, Brussels, London, etc. These layovers can sometimes take several hours to even days at connecting airports.

To operate direct flights from an African country to the US, certain safety and infrastructural conditions have to be met and approval must be obtained from the US government.

The US Federal Aviation Administration requires that in order to operate passenger or cargo flights to, from, or through the United States, foreign air carriers or operators must acquire a permit from the Department of Transportation (DOT) as mandated by Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.).

The issuance of these permits to air carriers however is subject to the originating airports meeting certain conditions such as Category 1 Status.

The strict conditions that precede acquiring this permit mean that there aren’t many African countries or cities permitted to operate direct flights to the USA.

The following are the airports in Africa from where airlines operate direct flights to the United States of America.

1. Cairo International Airport (CAI) – Cairo, Egypt

Egyptair operates direct flights from Cairo International Airport (CAI) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. Flight time is about 11 hours, 40 minutes.

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2. OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) – Johannesburg, South Africa

Delta Airlines flies directly from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia on select days of the week. Flight time is 16 hours, 30 minutes.

3. Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) – Lagos, Nigeria

Delta Airlines flies directly from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos, Nigeria to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia on select days of the week. Flight time is 12 hours, 15 minutes.

4. Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) – Casablanca, Morocco

Both the Royal Air Maroc and American Airlines operate direct flights from Morocco’s Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. Flight time is 7 hours 50 minutes.

5. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) – Nairobi, Kenya

Two airlines; Kenya Airways and Delta Airlines operate direct flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. The non-stop flights take 15 hours.

6. Kotoka International Airport (ACC) – Accra, Ghana

Delta Airlines and Air France operate direct flights from Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. Flight time is 11 hours 14 minutes.

7. Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) – Dakar, Senegal

Delta Airlines and Air Senegal operate direct flights from Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) in Dakar, Senegal to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. Flight time is 8 hours and 45 minutes.

8. Bole International Airport (ADD) – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Airlines operates flights from Bole International Airport (ADD) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C. These flights however have a ‘No aircraft change’ layover of 1 hour at Leonardo da Vinci–Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Italy for 1 hr. The flights take 17 hours and 5 minutes.

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