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QOW Sam Mbakwe International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Sam Mbakwe International Airport (QOW) serves Port Harcourt, about 75 km north of Port Harcourt. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAQOW
ICAODNIM
ServesPort Harcourt
From centre75 km
Non-stop2
Airlines1
TimezoneAfrica/Lagos
Elevation114 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Sam Mbakwe International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Sam Mbakwe International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 547,295 passengers in 2021.

Passengers / year
547,295
as of 2021
Elevation
114 מ׳
above sea level
Passengers per year, 2015–2021

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from Sam Mbakwe International Airport to Port Harcourt

The airport is about 75 km north of Port Harcourt, about 79 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.

Taxi & apps: Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.

Tipping: Rounding up is accepted almost everywhere.

Transport guidance is generic for this country — check exact details on the airport's own site.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~55 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~79 minmetered
Private transfer~79 minfixed upfront
Car rental~79 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From QOW to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Aba40 km56 min—
Onitsha93 km97 min—
Calabar135 km141 min—
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Sam Mbakwe International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Imo ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Sam Mbakwe International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 2 destinations, operated by 1 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: World Scale Airlines

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Sam Mbakwe International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Sam Mbakwe International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Imo shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Sam Mbakwe International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Port Harcourt

Same country

Other airports in Nigeria

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Sam Mbakwe International Airport to the centre of Port Harcourt?
Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. The airport is about 75 km north of Port Harcourt, about 79 minutes by road.
Can I use a ride app from Sam Mbakwe International Airport?
Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.
What's the cheapest way from Sam Mbakwe International Airport to Port Harcourt?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.
Can I get from Sam Mbakwe International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Sam Mbakwe International Airport?
About 2 destinations, including Lagos, Abuja. 1 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Sam Mbakwe International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Sam Mbakwe International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Sam Mbakwe International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Imo city guide← Nigeria travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes

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