Airport
Tamale International Airport Arrivals: Pickups and Car Hire & Rental
Quick answer: Tamale airport has the code TML (ICAO DGLE). Ghana's aviation regulator lists it as Yakubu Tali International Airport, but Ghana Airports Company (GACL) and most people still call it Tamale International Airport. Scheduled flights are domestic, from Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka): Africa World Airlines says it runs up to four flights a day, and PassionAir also flies to Tamale. There is one modern terminal, opened in 2023. We couldn't verify a named car rental desk in the arrivals hall, so pre-book your pickup or car hire & rental, check your driver's ID before you load your bags, and plan onward drives to Mole or Bolgatanga for daylight.
This guide is for anyone landing at Tamale: visitors heading for Mole National Park, NGO and development staff, business travellers, students and families coming home to the north. It sets out what the airport operator, the regulator, the airlines and UK and US travel advice actually say, and what to agree with a car rental and hire firm before you fly.
Tamale airport at a glance
| Name | Tamale International Airport (GACL); Yakubu Tali International Airport (GCAA list) |
| Airport code | IATA TML, ICAO DGLE |
| Terminal | One passenger terminal, in use since July 2023 |
| Scheduled airlines | Africa World Airlines and PassionAir (domestic, from Accra) |
| Opening hours | Extended to 10pm from June 2025 (GACL) |
| Rental desks | None we could verify by name |
| Checked | 23 October 2026 |
The name: Tamale or Yakubu Tali?
Both names are in use, and the sources don't agree.
- The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) airports list gives Tamale's codes as TML and DGLE and the name as Yakubu Tali International Airport.
- Graphic Online reported that President Akufo-Addo announced the Yakubu Tali name in his State of the Nation Address in February 2024.
- In February 2026, Citi Newsroom reported an NDC spokesman saying the name was under review, and that the party had proposed Gbewaa International Airport instead. As of 23 October 2026, we couldn't find an official decision.
- GACL, which runs the airport, still calls it Tamale International Airport on its website, and the terminal sign in the June 2026 photo above reads the same.
For booking flights and pickups, TML is the code that matters. Airlines and drivers will all know it as Tamale airport.
The terminal: what GACL says
GACL says the new terminal was designed for 400,000 passengers a year. Its features are:
- a VIP lounge
- two boarding gates
- two self-service check-in kiosks
- eight check-in desks
- airline offices and commercial retail areas
All flights moved to the new terminal from 29 July 2023, with full operations from 31 July 2023, and the terminal was formally commissioned in August 2023. GACL says a new 5 km road network off the Tamale–Bolgatanga Road was built to reach it, so expect your driver to come in from that road.
A separate multi-purpose terminal, finished in 2022, has been used for Hajj pilgrims. GACL says the airport is used for both civil and military operations and for special international flights. An earlier phase extended the runway from 2,438 m to 3,940 m, so Tamale can take wide-body aircraft as an alternate to Accra in an emergency.
GACL's history page says the airport grew out of a military airport planned eleven miles north of Tamale under Ghana's first republic, later adapted for civil flights.
Opening hours
In June 2025, GACL and the GCAA extended Tamale's operating hours to 10pm, so passengers arriving in Accra from the UK, Europe and elsewhere could connect to Tamale after 8pm. GACL added that this depends on airlines adding evening flights. A late arrival means a night drive into town, so agree that pickup clearly in advance.
Who flies to Tamale?
We checked the airlines' own websites on 23 October 2026.
- Africa World Airlines lists Tamale among its destinations with up to four flights a day.
- PassionAir says on its website that it flies to Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale, Wa and Sunyani. Its booking site blocked our automated check, so we couldn't confirm its current timetable.
We couldn't confirm any scheduled international flights to Tamale on airline websites. If you're flying in from abroad, you'll land at Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka) and connect to a domestic flight. If you're coming from Kumasi, our Kumasi to Tamale by road guide explains why we couldn't confirm a direct flight either.
Flight schedules: times change with the season, so check your airline's own site or app on the day. We don't list flight times or fares here.
ID for domestic flights
Africa World Airlines says check-in opens 2 hours before departure and closes 40 minutes before. It requires a valid physical government-issued photo ID for domestic flights, and says foreign residents must show their passport. Photocopies and phone photos aren't accepted. Keep your passport with you for the flight home too.
Harmattan delays
Between late November and March, Harmattan dust can cut visibility in the north, and the GCAA has said it is worst in January and February. In a 2019 advisory reported by MyJoyOnline, the GCAA said flight delays, diversions and cancellations would be more severe at Kumasi, Tamale and Wa. If you're flying in that season, give your car hire & rental firm your flight number and agree what happens if the flight is delayed or cancelled. Our Harmattan driving guide covers past disruption at Tamale and the road option.
Car hire & rental at Tamale airport
We couldn't verify any named car rental desk at Tamale airport. In its June 2025 statement on opening hours, GACL said concessionaires, "including car rental companies", at Prempeh I and Tamale airports had welcomed the change. It didn't name any firm or say which airport each one was at.
In practice, most visitors arrange a car before they land:
- A car with a driver meets you in the arrivals area. This is the usual choice for first-time visitors and for long drives north or west.
- Self-drive, with the car delivered to the airport. Some Tamale firms say on their own pages that they offer self-drive, and at least one says it delivers to Tamale airport. Bring your licence and, if you need one, an International Driving Permit.
- A one-way transfer to your hotel, then a separate car hire & rental for day trips.
Compare firms based in the city on our car hire & rental in Tamale page. Prices are as each firm publishes them on its own page, so ask for a written quote for your dates.
What to agree before you fly
| Agree in writing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your flight number and arrival time | So the driver can track delays and Harmattan disruption |
| What happens if the flight is late, cancelled or diverted | Avoid paying for a wasted trip, or being left without a car |
| Driver's name, photo, phone number and the vehicle registration | So you can check you've got the right driver (see below) |
| A meeting point and a name board with a code word or booking reference | Not just your surname |
| Waiting time included, and any charge after that | Agree it before, not after |
| For self-drive: insurance, fuel policy, mileage, and who to call if the car breaks down | Long rural drives start here |
| For trips to Mole or the Upper East: whether the car is a 4x4 or high-clearance SUV | The US State Department says many roads outside major cities are in poor condition, and the FCDO says flooding is common in the north from March to November |
Never send a deposit to a personal account that doesn't match the firm's name.
Meeting your driver safely
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises: "If you're being collected at the airport, confirm the identity of your driver by asking for ID." It says British nationals have been robbed by impostors pretending to be their driver around the main arrivals area. The FCDO's airport advice is written with Accra's main airport in mind, but the same check costs nothing at Tamale. The FCDO also says permanent airport staff wear photo ID cards, and ID cards without a photo aren't valid.
The US State Department advises being wary of unsolicited help at the airport from anyone other than uniformed porters or officials.
Our checklist:
- Get the driver's name, photo, phone number and plate number before you fly.
- Ask for ID and check the plate against what the firm sent you before loading your bags.
- Don't go with someone who says they "know your driver".
- Keep your hotel or host's number written down in case your phone has no signal.
Onward roads from Tamale airport
Read the official advice before you plan any drive north or west of Tamale. Both the UK and the US single out parts of the north.
Everywhere outside the main towns. The FCDO says to avoid road travel outside main towns after dark, when the risk of serious accidents and attacks on vehicles is much higher. For longer trips outside major cities, it advises travelling in daylight, in a convoy of at least two vehicles, getting advice from local police, and not stopping if people at the roadside try to flag you down. The US State Department calls night travel outside major cities "extremely dangerous" and says to drive with doors locked and windows up.
Tamale to Mole National Park
Mole National Park's own website puts the park about 146 km from Tamale, around 2 hours 30 minutes by road, through Damongo and Larabanga. A morning pickup from the airport, or a night in Tamale first, gets you there in daylight. The US State Department says to reconsider travel to areas west of the N12 highway in the Savannah Region, and the FCDO reports tribal conflict in the western part of the Savannah Region. Our 4x4 car hire & rental guide for Mole and northern Ghana covers the route, the park rules and the vehicles to ask for.
Tamale to Bolgatanga
The Tamale–Bolgatanga highway is 163 km. In May 2026, the Upper East Regional Minister told the Ghana News Agency that potholes had turned into gullies, and that a trip which used to take about two and a half hours now took normal vehicles close to four. We couldn't confirm when repairs will start.
The FCDO reports attacks linked to the Bawku conflict on the Nasia–Walewale–Bolgatanga road and says many people arrange police escorts on it. It advises against all but essential travel to the Bawku Municipal area. The US State Department says to reconsider travel to the northern border areas of the Upper East, North East and Upper West regions. If Bolgatanga is your destination, check the latest FCDO and US advice on the day and take local advice. Our guide to whether it's safe to drive in Ghana covers the wider road-safety advice.
Tamale to Kumasi and Accra
If you're driving south rather than flying, our Accra to Tamale by road guide covers the route, timings and safety advice. The US State Department reports increased robberies on the Kintampo–Tamale highway.
Frequently asked questions
What is the airport code for Tamale?
TML. The ICAO code is DGLE. Both are on the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority's airports list.
Is Tamale airport now called Yakubu Tali International Airport?
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority's list uses Yakubu Tali International Airport, a name announced in February 2024. Ghana Airports Company still calls it Tamale International Airport, and Citi Newsroom reported in February 2026 that the name was under review. We couldn't find a final decision as of 23 October 2026.
Which airlines fly to Tamale?
Africa World Airlines, which says it runs up to four flights a day, and PassionAir. Both fly domestic routes from Accra. We couldn't confirm any scheduled international flights to Tamale.
Where can I find the Tamale airport flight schedule?
On the airlines' own websites and apps. Times change, so check on the day you travel and give your driver or rental firm your flight number.
Is there a car rental desk at Tamale airport?
We couldn't verify one by name. GACL has said car rental companies are among the concessionaires at Prempeh I and Tamale airports, but it didn't name them. Pre-book a pickup or a car hire & rental with a firm in Tamale before you fly.
How far is Mole National Park from Tamale airport?
The park's website puts it about 146 km from Tamale, around 2 hours 30 minutes by road. Plan to drive in daylight.
Is it safe to drive from Tamale to Bolgatanga?
Check the latest advice before you go. The FCDO reports attacks on the Nasia–Walewale–Bolgatanga road linked to the Bawku conflict and says many people use police escorts. The Ghana News Agency reported in May 2026 that the 163 km road was badly potholed. Travel only in daylight and take local advice.
Next steps
Pick a firm on our car hire & rental in Tamale page, send it your flight number, and get the driver's details, the price and the waiting-time terms in writing before you fly.
Sources
- Airports: Tamale, ICAO DGLE, IATA TML, Yakubu Tali International Airport (checked 23 October 2026) (Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA))
- Tamale Airport Phase 2: new terminal for 400,000 passengers a year, gates, check-in desks, 5 km access road off the Tamale–Bolgatanga Road (checked 23 October 2026) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- Tamale Airport: history, runway extension to 3,940 m, civil and military use, alternate to Accra (checked 23 October 2026) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- Tamale International Airport Terminal Commissioned (23 August 2023) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- GACL and GCAA extend operational hours at Prempeh I and Tamale International Airports (Tamale open until 10pm; 5 June 2025) (Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL))
- SONA 2024: Prez Akufo-Addo to rename Kumasi and Tamale international airports (Yakubu Tali International Airport; February 2024) (Graphic Online)
- Tamale Airport name under review – NDC's Hamza Suhuyini (4 February 2026) (Citi Newsroom)
- Our destinations: Tamale, up to 4 flights daily; check-in times and ID rules (checked 23 October 2026) (Africa World Airlines)
- FAQs: destinations served, including Tamale (checked 23 October 2026) (PassionAir)
- Ghana travel advice: safety and security (airport driver ID, road travel after dark, long trips) (checked 23 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
- Ghana travel advice: regional risks (Bawku, Nasia–Walewale–Bolgatanga road, Savannah Region) (checked 23 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
- Ghana Travel Advisory: Level 2 (issued 7 July 2026), northern areas and road safety (checked 23 October 2026) (US Department of State)
- Getting there: about 146 km and 2 hours 30 minutes from Tamale (checked 23 October 2026) (Mole National Park)
- Urgently rehabilitate Tamale-Bolgatanga Highway – Minister appeals to government (163 km road; 6 May 2026) (Ghana News Agency)
- Expect flight cancellation as Harmattan approaches – GCAA to customers (23 December 2019) (MyJoyOnline)
Last checked: 23 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.
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Photo: Sean MENDIS, CC BY-SA 4.0
