Aéroports du Cameroun (ADC) is reactivating the modernization project of Douala International Airport. A call for expressions of interest, signed on March 23, 2026, by the company's General Manager, Thomas Owona Assoumou, marks the beginning of the pre-qualification of companies wishing to participate in the construction of the passenger terminal buildings. This step follows an initial call launched last December, but declared "unsuccessful" by ADC.
The pre-selection is open to companies or groups of companies, whether national or foreign, specializing in the building sector. Candidates have the option to bid for one, two or all three lots of the project. The evaluation of the offers will be based primarily on the technical and financial capacity of the bidders to carry out the work, as well as on their references in similar projects.
Interested companies have until April 23, 2026 to submit their applications. After this pre-selection phase, a call for tenders will be launched in the second quarter of 2026, with work planned over a period of 24 months. The program includes the extension of 25,000 m² of the terminal to integrate the Baggage Handling System (BHS), the baggage delivery room, the check-in area, passenger and cabin baggage control, as well as the creation of a new central departure lounge.
The project also includes the renovation of piers A and B, the baggage delivery room, the Border Inspection Posts (BIP) and Border Assistance Posts (BAP) on arrival, the runway-side offices and VIP lounges. According to ADC, this contract is part of a larger operation including the acquisition of equipment and the construction of parking lots for aircraft. Thomas Owona Assoumou stresses that "the selected company will have to collaborate with other companies to ensure the management of the interface and the coherence of the project".
The financing of this project amounts to 95 billion FCFA, coming from a loan from the French Development Agency (AFD), ADC's own funds and a contribution from the Cameroonian State. The main objective is to thoroughly modernize Douala airport, in order to reposition it as a reference hub in Central Africa, capable of supporting Cameroon's growth and strengthening the competitiveness of the CEMAC sub-region. Work is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026, with delivery planned for June 2028. Once completed, Douala International Airport is expected to increase its capacity from 1.5 million to 2.5 million passengers per year.
