At the airport
Charter flights and the winter tourist season at Banjul
Short answer
- Expected tourists, 2024 to 2025
- 232,000, per the GTBoard Director General 1
- First flight, 2025 to 2026 season
- Gambia Experience, 189 tourists, October 2025 3
- Peak season in 2011
- Up to 41 flights a week, mostly charters from Europe 6
- Fee at the airport
- US$20 airport security fee on arrival and on departure 8
When the season runs
The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) declared the 2024 to 2025 winter season open on Friday 11 October 2024, as reported by Yunus S. Saliu in The Point 2. Its Director General, Abubacarr S. Camara, said the season now opens with UK flights, as the UK sends more tourists than any other country 1.
The tour operator The Gambia Experience said its 2025 to 2026 programme runs to the end of April, as reported by Andrea Thompson in Travelling for Business 4. A WFP assessment with 2011 figures said peak season brought up to 41 flights a week, mostly charters from Europe 6. That figure is historical.
Charter operators named by the Tourism Board
In October 2024 The Point, as reported by Jankey Touray, listed the weekly charter flights the GTBoard expected for the 2024 to 2025 season 1. The listed flights add up to 22, against the board's total of 24 1.
Scheduled airlines in the same count
The same report listed 33 scheduled flights a week. They were Air Senegal with 8, ASky and Royal Air Maroc with 7 each, Brussels Airlines with 5, and Air Peace and Turkish Airlines with 3 each 1.
The board said a Scandinavian operator would start on 5 November 2024 and that a Baltic project would bring about 600 tourists, with a first flight on 1 November 2024 1. Status: announced in October 2024.
First flights of recent seasons
- 11 October 2024: the season opened. Corendon landed from the Netherlands with 197 passengers, Titan Eastern Europe from Warsaw with 193 and TUI UK with 192 2.
- October 2025: the first Gambia Experience flight of the 2025 to 2026 season landed with 189 tourists. Tourism Minister Abdou Jobe received it 3.
- 4 October 2025: Travelling for Business said this flight left Gatwick, operated by Ascend Airways, a new airline partner for The Gambia Experience. It said a Saturday flight joined Tuesday and Friday Gatwick departures, with more flights from Manchester 4.
Airports in the UK
TUI UK sells flights to Banjul International Airport for 2026 and 2027 from a choice of UK airports. Its page says TUI flights use the main terminal (provider page) 7.
Manchester Airport announced a direct Manchester to Banjul route for The Gambia Experience on Mondays from 16 December 2019 to 27 April 2020 (company statement) 5. That season is historical.
Fees and arrival for charter passengers
UK advice says you must pay an Airport Security Fee of US$20 when you arrive and when you leave. It can be paid in euros, British pounds or local currency. Children aged 1 or under and transit passengers are exempt 8.
In November 2024 GTBoard head of marketing Foday Bah told The Point that arrivals at the airport had improved, after congestion the previous season when two flights landed at the same time 2. The Gambia Experience said its package prices include flights and hotel transfers 4.
Common questions
When does the Gambia tourist season start?
In October. The 2024 to 2025 season opened on 11 October 2024 2. The first 2025 to 2026 charter landed in October 2025 3.
Which tour operators fly charters to Banjul?
The Tourism Board named TUI UK, Gambia Experience, Corendon, TUI Holland, TUI Belgium and others for 2024 to 2025 1.
How many flights a week go to The Gambia in season?
The Tourism Board said 57 a week for 2024 to 2025, with 24 charter and 33 scheduled 1,2.
Do charter passengers pay the airport security fee?
Yes. UK advice says you must pay US$20 when you arrive and when you leave, except children aged 1 or under and transit passengers 8.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
Sources
- The Point, as reported by Jankey Touray: Over 200,000 tourists expected in 2024 to 2025 season, GTBoard (10 October 2024)
- The Point, as reported by Yunus S. Saliu: Gambia receives more flights for 2024/25 winter tourism season (4 November 2024)
- The Point, as reported by Sheriff Janko: Gambia Experience maiden flight lands with 189 tourists (7 October 2025)
- Travelling for Business, as reported by Andrea Thompson: The Gambia Experience celebrates first flight with a vibrant cultural welcome (9 October 2025)
- Manchester Airport: New flights to The Gambia, company statement (14 October 2019)
- WFP Logistics Cluster: Logistics Capacity Assessment, Gambia Banjul International Airport (figures dated 2011)
- TUI UK: Flights to Banjul International Airport 2026 and 2027 (provider page)
- GOV.UK, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Gambia travel advice, entry requirements (updated 7 July 2026)
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