Airport
Kumasi Airport Arrivals: Prempeh I International Airport Pickups and Car Hire & Rental
Quick answer: Kumasi airport is Prempeh I International Airport (code KMS). Despite the name, Ghana Airports Company says it's served by two domestic airlines, Africa World Airlines and PassionAir, and we found no scheduled international flights into Kumasi as of 29 October 2026. Most visitors fly in from Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka). For Kumasi airport car rental, there's no named rental desk we could confirm, so book your pickup or car hire & rental before you fly, and check your driver's ID when you land.
This guide is about the moment you land in Kumasi: who flies there, what the terminal is like, how late it's open, and how to meet a pre-booked driver or hire car safely. For driver day rates and day trips once you're in the city, see our Kumasi car hire & rental with a driver guide. We don't repeat that here.
Prempeh I International Airport at a glance
| Question | What we found (checked 29 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Airport codes | IATA KMS, ICAO DGSI (GCAA) |
| Former name | Kumasi Airport |
| Terminal | New terminal in use since 1 July 2024 |
| Airlines | Africa World Airlines and PassionAir (both domestic) |
| Scheduled international flights | None found |
| Opening hours | Until 11pm (GACL, June 2025) |
| Runway | Being extended from 1,981 m to 2,320 m; no official completion notice found |
| Car rental desk | None named; book ahead |
| Distance to Kumasi city centre | No official figure published |
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority's airport list gives the codes, so your ticket or booking site may show "KMS" rather than the full name.
The terminal
The new terminal was commissioned on 10 May 2024, when the airport was named after the Asante King Prempeh I, the Ghana News Agency reported. GACL then moved flights into it from 1 July 2024, after test runs and three live flights at the end of June.
According to GACL's statement, as reported by GNA, the terminal has:
- capacity for 800,000 passengers a year and 200 an hour
- two passenger boarding bridges and four boarding gates
- four self-service check-in kiosks and nine check-in desks
- 16 immigration booths and a visa-on-arrival facility
- a forex bureau, a currency declaration office and a retail area
- an automated car park, a medical facility and an area for unaccompanied minors
The immigration booths and visa-on-arrival facility are there for international flights. On the day we checked, there were no scheduled international flights to use them.
Who flies to Kumasi?
Ghana Airports Company's Prempeh I page says the airport is "currently served by two domestic carriers": Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir. On 29 October 2026:
- Africa World Airlines. Its website lists Kumasi with "up to 8 flights daily".
- PassionAir. Its FAQ says it "currently operates flights to Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale, Wa, and Sunyani". We didn't check its booking engine, so we can't confirm its current timetable.
Check the airline's own site or app for flight times on your date. We don't quote fares, because they change constantly.
Before you board the flight to Kumasi
AWA's website says check-in opens 2 hours before departure and closes 40 minutes before. It asks for a valid national photo ID, and foreign residents must show a passport, even on domestic flights. Keep your passport in your hand luggage.
Are there international flights to Kumasi?
Not on a schedule, as far as we could find. GACL says the airport was declared international in 2003, "primarily for regional operations". The government is now extending the runway from 1,981 m to 2,320 m so that medium-sized aircraft can use it:
- In September 2025, the Transport Minister said the extension was 90% complete and due to finish by the end of 2025, Citi Newsroom reported.
- In January 2026, GNA reported the Ashanti Regional Minister inspecting the runway works, which were still ongoing.
- In August 2026, Graphic reported a Kumasi cleric calling for direct Hajj flights from Kumasi in 2027. He said aviation officials had told him medium-sized aircraft could now use the airport.
We found no GACL or Ministry of Transport announcement that the runway is finished or that international airlines have a start date. If you're flying in from abroad, plan to land at Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka). Our Accra airport arrival and pickup guide covers that end of the trip.
Late arrivals: open until 11pm
In June 2025, GACL and the GCAA said Prempeh I would stay open until 11pm. That's meant to let passengers from the UK and Europe connect in Accra and reach Kumasi the same evening, without staying overnight in Accra. GACL said this depends on airlines adding flights after 8pm. In September 2025, the Transport Minister said night operations had been extended from 8pm to 11pm.
If you land in the evening:
- Book your pickup in advance. Don't plan on finding a car at the kerb.
- Give the firm your flight number so the driver can follow delays.
- Agree in writing what happens if your flight is cancelled or lands very late.
- The UK FCDO advises against travelling alone in taxis after dark. If you must take a taxi, use a licensed one and check the driver's ID and the vehicle.
Meeting your driver safely
The UK FCDO's Ghana safety advice is written about Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka), but the same checks make sense in Kumasi:
- Confirm your driver's identity by asking for ID. The FCDO says British nationals have been robbed by impostors who approached them around the main arrivals area, pretending to be their driver.
- Be wary of offers of help, except from uniformed porters or officials. Permanent airport staff wear a photo ID card. Cards without a photo aren't valid.
- Keep your passport secure and don't leave bags unattended.
The FCDO also notes media reports of criminal kidnapping in Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi, including of foreign nationals. A pre-booked driver whose name, phone number and number plate you already have is the simplest way to avoid accepting a lift from a stranger.
Send this to the firm before you fly
| Send or agree in writing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Flight number, date and airline | So the driver can follow delays |
| Driver's name, phone and number plate | So you meet only that driver |
| Where in arrivals you'll meet | So you don't wander outside looking for them |
| Waiting time included if you're late | So a delay doesn't become a dispute |
| What happens if the flight is cancelled | So you know whether you pay anything |
| Drop-off address and number of bags | So the right size of car comes |
Car hire & rental from Kumasi airport
GACL's June 2025 announcement mentions car rental companies among the concessionaires at the Prempeh I and Tamale airports, but it doesn't name them. GACL's airport page doesn't list a rental desk, and we couldn't confirm one in the Kumasi terminal. So arrange your car before you fly.
- Airport pickup only. Compare the firms on our Prempeh I International Airport transfer page, several of them based around the Airport Roundabout area.
- A car for your whole stay. Browse all car hire & rental in Kumasi, with or without a driver.
- A driver for day trips. Our Kumasi with a driver guide covers what to ask about hours and day trips to Lake Bosomtwe and Bonwire.
If you'd rather drive one way between Accra and Kumasi, see our Accra to Kumasi road trip guide. The FCDO advises avoiding road travel outside the main towns after dark, so if you land late, stay in Kumasi and drive on the next morning.
We don't publish a price list. Prices change often, so ask each firm for a dated written quote and never pay a deposit into a personal account that doesn't match the firm's name.
Frequently asked questions
What is the name of Kumasi airport?
Prempeh I International Airport, formerly Kumasi Airport. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority lists it with IATA code KMS and ICAO code DGSI. It was named after the Asante King Prempeh I when the new terminal was commissioned on 10 May 2024.
Are there international flights to Kumasi airport?
We found no scheduled international flights as of 29 October 2026. Ghana Airports Company says the airport is served by two domestic carriers, Africa World Airlines and PassionAir. A runway extension meant to allow medium-sized aircraft has been under way, but we found no official notice that it's finished. Fly into Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka) and connect.
Which airlines fly to Kumasi?
Africa World Airlines, which lists up to 8 flights a day on its website, and PassionAir, which lists Kumasi in its FAQ. Check the airline's own site for times on your date.
Is there car rental at Kumasi airport?
GACL has mentioned car rental companies among its concessionaires at Prempeh I and Tamale airports, but it doesn't name them, and we couldn't confirm a rental desk in the Kumasi terminal. Book a pickup or car hire & rental in advance with a Kumasi firm.
How late is Kumasi airport open?
GACL and the GCAA said in June 2025 that Prempeh I International Airport would stay open until 11pm. Actual arrival times depend on each airline's schedule.
How far is Kumasi airport from the city centre?
We found no official distance from GACL or the Ghana Highway Authority, so we don't give one. Ask your driver how long the trip to your address takes at your arrival time.
How do I know my airport driver is genuine?
Get the driver's name, phone number and number plate before you fly, and ask for ID when you meet. The UK FCDO says impostors have approached arriving passengers pretending to be their driver.
Book your Kumasi arrival
Compare firms on our Prempeh I International Airport transfer page or car hire & rental in Kumasi. Send each firm your flight number, arrival time, passengers and drop-off address, and ask for the price, waiting time and cancellation terms in writing.
Sources
- Prempeh I International Airport: history, declared international in 2003 for regional operations, Phase 2 terminal for 800,000 passengers a year, Phase 3 runway extension from 1,981 m to 2,320 m, 'currently served by two domestic carriers' (checked 29 October 2026) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- Ongoing project(s): Prempeh I International Airport, Kumasi (Phase 2 and Phase 3 scope; checked 29 October 2026) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- Airports: Kumasi, ICAO DGSI, IATA KMS, Prempeh I International Airport (checked 29 October 2026) (Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA))
- President Akufo-Addo commissions Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi (10 May 2024) (Ghana News Agency)
- GACL to operationalize new terminal building at Prempeh International Airport, Kumasi (opens 1 July 2024; terminal features; 24 June 2024) (Ghana News Agency)
- GACL and GCAA extend operational hours at Prempeh I and Tamale International Airports (Prempeh I open until 11pm; 5 June 2025) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- Prempeh Agyemang I Airport runway extension 90% complete: Transport Minister (night operations extended from 8pm to 11pm; 17 September 2025) (Citi Newsroom)
- Ashanti Regional Minister inspects runway expansion at Prempeh I International Airport (ongoing works; 10 January 2026) (Ghana News Agency)
- Make Kumasi Hajj airlifts a reality: Sheikh Ridwan (call for direct Hajj flights from Kumasi in 2027; 7 August 2026) (Graphic Online)
- Our destinations: Kumasi, up to 8 flights daily; check-in opens 2 hours and closes 40 minutes before departure; photo ID rules (checked 29 October 2026) (Africa World Airlines)
- FAQs: 'PassionAir currently operates flights to Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale, Wa, and Sunyani' (checked 29 October 2026) (PassionAir)
- Ghana travel advice: safety and security (airport driver ID, impostors in arrivals, taxis after dark, kidnap reports including Kumasi, roads after dark; checked 29 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
Last checked: 29 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.
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Photo: Ijon, CC BY-SA 4.0
