Travel to Benin | By Air, Sea, and Land

Benin Travel

Benin, officially Republic of Benin, French République du Bénin, formerly (until 1975) Dahomey or (1975–90) People’s Republic of Benin, country of western Africa. It consists of a narrow wedge of territory extending northward for about 420 miles (675 kilometres) from the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean, on which it has a 75-mile seacoast, to the Niger River, which forms part of Benin’s northern border with Niger. Benin is bordered to the northwest by Burkina Faso, to the east by Nigeria, and to the west by Togo. The official capital is Porto-Novo, but Cotonou is Benin’s largest city, its chief port, and its de facto administrative capital. Benin was a French colony from the late 19th century until 1960. Apply for a Benin Visa

The port of Cotonou

The port of Cotonou handled almost 9 million mt in 2017, in import, export and transit. This grew from 4 million mt in 2016 and continuing to grow. That represents a growth of nearly 44% over 2016, and every year since has seen volumes far above planned or expected volumes. Therefore, the port congestion has made its presence felt. The number of vessels calling the port declined, but the vessels calling were larger than before.

Benin Port Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Port fees, which entail tugging, piloting, mooring and port dues will amount to about 5 000 000 XOF. General cargo handling is at about 5 000 XOF per mt while bulk handling is around 2 500 XOF per mt. For updates on conventional handling charges, SOBEMAP can be consulted. Container handling charges are found in the table below and updates can be obtained from COMAN and SMTC.

Benin Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport of Cotonou

Cotonou-Cadjehoun is the only international airport of the country. It is located about 5km from downtown. Cotonou International Airport is the largest airport in Benin. Its international code (IATA code) is COO. Its ICAO code is DBBB. It was renamed Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport by President Thomas Yayi Boni. The Cotonou International Airport allows domestic service as well as international and intercontinental flights and is also a base of the Benin Air Force and a place of practice of leisure aviation.

Benin Aviation

The National Agency of Civil Aviation (ANAC) was created in the Republic of Benin, by decree N ° 2004-598 of October 29, 2004, replacing the Civil Aviation Directorate (DAC). It is a public administrative and technical institution. It has financial autonomy. ANAC is placed under the supervision of the Minister of Civil Aviation with strictly independent of the structures it controls, on behalf of the Republic of Benin.

ANAC oversees ensuring, on behalf of the state, regulatory and control missions in the field of civil aviation. It ensures the sovereign functions in civil aviation. In addition, it defines and executes state policy and represents it with all international civil aviation organizations. It also controls all airlines operating on the territory of the Republic of Benin, both domestic operators and foreign operators (regional and international) by granting them authorization and approval.

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

The application for the operating license of a foreign airline is handled in accordance with the Manual of Procedure of Authorisation of Operating Foreign Regular Air Companies (attached, in French) that each company is invited to submit. The same rules apply to chartered flights and humanitarian flights. The company wishing to serve Cotonou must be designated by its Civil Aviation Authority of tutelage to the ANAC Benin. It must also take the necessary steps with its Authority so that that designation is notified to ANAC Benin through the diplomatic channel.

In addition, the company must complete the Operating Permit Questionnaire for Foreign Airlines carefully so that its file can be studied. In this questionnaire, it is requested to attach certain valid documents. These documents (Copy of the articles of association, the commercial register, the PEA or AOC, the air operator's authorization or the company's operating license, certificates of airworthiness, registration, noise limitation, radio station, insurance of each aircraft, etc.) must be provided to facilitate the study of the company's file.

Procedure Overview / Landing

ANAC - Benin authorises any overflight of the Beninese national territory or any landing on any of the aerodromes open to the international air traffic in Benin that under precise conditions and in close relationship with the Military Cabinet. As such, any request for overflight and landing must be sent to the ANAC within a strict deadline of at least 72 hours before the scheduled date of operation to allow for a processing and a procedure of checks and controls in force.

All requests must be made during the working days of service at the ANAC - Benin as follows: from Monday to Friday (except holidays in Benin). from 08:00 to 12:30 and 15:00 to 18:30 (GMT + 1). Important notes: Weekends and holidays: In addition to the days declared "public" in the Republic of Benin, no permanence is available at the ANAC - Benin on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). As such, all the necessary provisions must be made by the operators to get possession of their overflight and landing numbers during the working days and hours of service specified above.