Although Mauritania is one of the least visited countries in North Africa, it’s airport in Nouakchott has many flight options with different carriers. Tourism has increased in recent years due to the popularity of riding the iron ore train, and the most common way to arrive in the country is by arriving at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport. There are many options of where to fly from, but most foreign tourists will likely transit through Casablanca, Paris, or Istanbul to arrive in Nouakchott. Most of the other international flights are from cities in the countries surrounding Mauritania.
Mauritania Airlines- Mauritania’s Flag Carrier
Mauritania’s flag carrier and the airline with the most destinations out of Nouakchott Oumtounsy is Mauritania Airlines. This airline was founded in 2010 after the country’s former national airline, Mauritania Airways, went under. The company only has 7 aircrafts in its fleet, but still runs most of the flights in and out of the airport.
Some travelers might be freaked out by the fact that Mauritania airlines was once briefly on the EU airline blacklist, but it was removed in December of 2012 after an overhaul to improve its standards and numerous safety inspections by organizations such as ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).
Which Other Airlines Fly have Service in Nouakchott?
Most of the airlines with regularly scheduled flights in and out of Nouakchott are the national carriers of nearby countries. These include Royal Air Maroc, Air Algérie, Air France, Air Senegal, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Binter Canarias, and ASKY Airlines, which is a multinational West African airline run out of Lomé.
Where can I get a Direct Flight to or From?
There are currently 12 international destinations that Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport has direct flights to. Most of these are in the largest cities of Mauritania’s direct neighbors, such as Algiers, Bamako, Casablanca, and Dakar, as well as the largest cities of other nearby countries, such as Conakry, Banjul, Tunis, Gran Canaria, Lomé, and Abidjan. The only European city you can fly to direct from Nouakchott is Paris. The furthest city you can fly to is Istanbul.
Are There Any Other International Airports in Mauritania?
The second largest airport in Mauritania is Nouadhibou International Airport, in the north of the country. Currently, the only international flight into this airport is from Gran Canaria. For all other international flights, you would need to go through Nouakchott.
Does Mauritania Have Domestic Flights?
While most international flights only fly to the capital, Nouakchott, there are 3 other airports in the country for domestic flights. These are Néma, which is in the far southeast of the country near the border with Mali; Nouadhibou, which is the 2 nd largest city and a port city in the north near the border with Western Sahara; and Zouérat, a city in the north which is probably most well-known for being the origin point of the iron ore train. All domestic flights are run by Mauritania Airlines. The longest domestic flight is 2 hours and 20 minutes from Nouakchott to Zouérat, and the shortest is from Nouakchott to Nouadhibou at only 40 minutes. The flight from Nouakchott to Néma is 1 hour and 30 minutes. There are also direct flights between Nouadhibou and Zouérat, but for the other cities, you would need to fly through Nouakchott.
Wanting to Visit Mauritania Yourself?
Check out our Iron Ore Train Mauritania tour! We can also help organize a private itinerary for you. Email us at [email protected] to find out more. Curious about crossing a land border instead of flying? Check out THIS blog!
