Koutaba Airport Welcomes Pilgrims’ Flights in Complete Safety and Security
Published: Saturday, 16 May 2026 19:33
For the second consecutive year, Foumban (Koutaba) Airport was primed for the departure of pilgrims on May 14, 2026. Building on last year’s experience 36 years after the site had last hosted such operations, the airport once again witnessed the landing and take-off of a Boeing 737 operated by the national carrier, Camair-Co, transporting the first group of pilgrims from the region to Mecca.
The atmosphere among the local population was charged with emotion as the Camair-Co aircraft, designated the official carrier under the day’s flight plan, touched down on the tarmac. On board were 121 Muslim faithful embarking on their spiritual journey, marking the official launch of the outbound phase for pilgrims from this locality. Two further flights are scheduled for Sunday, 17 May 2026, carrying an additional 243 pilgrims to Douala.
The Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA), which manages the airport, oversaw the operation with meticulous care. Significant resources, personnel, and equipment were mobilized to guarantee optimal safety and security, in close collaboration with local partners and aviation stakeholders.
Preparations included resurfacing runway markings, reinstalling VHF communication systems, and deploying two fire-fighting vehicles to provide full coverage for the Boeing 737, ensuring compliance with Level 6 protection standards. Weather monitoring was entrusted to qualified staff, while passenger and baggage screening was reinforced with security gates and scanners operated by trained personnel.
These successful operations form part of a broader plan to channel pilgrims from Koutaba to the hubs of Yaoundé and Douala, where they will board international flights bound for Saudi Arabia.
Originally established for military purposes, Koutaba’s airfield now enjoys renewed attention from the Government, whose ambition remains to enhance connectivity between cities and improve mobility for the population.
With this latest operation, Koutaba’s secondary airport has re-entered the sphere of commercial transport, positioning itself as a vital link in regional connectivity and a genuine catalyst for local economic growth.
Trans: MKG/ARO-PRU
