Institutions and records
Ground handling at Banjul International Airport
Short answer
- Main handler
- Gambia International Airlines 1
- Founded
- 1996 1
- Services
- Passenger, ramp, baggage lost and found, cargo 1
- Hours in 2011 assessment
- 24 hours, aircraft up to Boeing 767 class 2
- Lost baggage
- GIA baggage lost and found service 1
- Contact
- gia.gm contact page 1
What GIA does
GIA describes itself as the national carrier of The Gambia, founded in 1996. It says it provides ground handling and related services to all carriers at Banjul International Airport (provider page) 1.
Its ground operations cover passenger services, ramp services and baggage lost and found. It lists free support services for airlines such as flight permits, weather briefings and airport liaison, and says station management charges are negotiable 1.
GIA says it uses Amadeus Altea customer and flight management systems 1. Its managing director is Numo K. Sanneh 1.
Is GIA the only handler?
The WFP Logistics Cluster assessment, with figures dated 2011, said GIA was the only specialised institution authorised to provide ground handling. It said GIA worked around the clock and could handle aircraft up to Boeing 767 class 2.
GIA's own page says it serves all carriers but does not claim exclusivity 1. This site found no current GCAA licence list for handlers. The GCAA Air Transport and Commerce directorate deals with airport revenue and non-aeronautical investment 3.
Equipment and cargo
The 2011 assessment listed hi-loaders up to 6.8 tonnes, 3 main deck loaders, 5 baggage conveyor belt loaders, 4 belt loaders, 3 forklifts and 5 tractors, plus mobile ground power units 2.
It named Redcoat as a cargo handling agent with a 276 square metre bonded warehouse 2. GIA now says its cargo complex is RA3-certified, with cold rooms and dual-view screening 1.
Airline security firms
Private firms provide airline security alongside handling. Afro-Euro Airline Security Services started at the airport on 7 November 2021. It said it would work with the GCAA and GIA on security standards 4. Its general manager said the other private airline security firms at the airport were fully foreign-owned, a claim the report did not verify 4.
Parliament and audit findings on GIA
On 1 June 2007 a five-year management contract between the government and GS Aviation began for GIA 6. In June 2008 a member of the National Assembly cited a pre-tax loss of D84m on turnover of D157m for June 2007 to April 2008 and called for a review 7.
In September 2011 the works minister told the Assembly that PAC and PEC recommendations on the losses had gone to government and that action was being considered 6.
In March 2024 the Public Enterprise Committee ordered GIA's board and management to retire D835,185 in imprest by 1 May 2024. It ordered an investigation into a D842,074 difference between ledger and internal audit balances, and said some transactions did not go through procurement 5. The report carried no GIA response 5.
Common questions
Who handles baggage at Banjul airport?
GIA says it provides ramp services and baggage lost and found for all carriers at the airport 1.
Where do I report lost luggage at Banjul?
GIA runs the baggage lost and found service. Contact it through gia.gm 1.
Is GIA the only ground handler at Banjul?
A 2011 WFP assessment said so 2. GIA's 2026 page says it serves all carriers but makes no exclusivity claim 1.
What did Parliament find at GIA in 2024?
The Public Enterprise Committee ordered D835,185 in imprest retired by 1 May 2024 5.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@gambiaairportguide.com.
Sources
- Gambia International Airlines: About GIA (provider page, 2026)
- WFP Logistics Cluster: Logistics Capacity Assessment, Gambia Banjul International Airport (figures dated 2011)
- Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Directorates (official page, undated)
- The Point: 1st Gambian owned private airline security services provider starts operations (10 November 2021)
- The Point (Jankey Ceesay): GIA given ultimatum to retire over 800k imprest (27 March 2024)
- The Point (Lamin B. Darboe): Govt considering action against financial loss at GIA (14 September 2011)
- The Point (Baboucarr Senghore and Abba Gibba): NAMs call for investigations at GIA (26 June 2008)
Related
- Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
The GCAA regulates aviation and runs Banjul International Airport. Its legal basis, directorates, passenger charges, and what audits and Parliament said.
- Audits and parliamentary scrutiny of Banjul airport
National Audit Office findings on the Securiport airport security fee contract, official responses, and National Assembly scrutiny of GCAA and GIA.
- Arriving at Banjul International Airport
What happens when you land at Banjul: immigration and entry stamp, the US$20 security fee, yellow fever certificate, customs allowances and transport.
- Departing from Banjul International Airport
Leaving The Gambia by air: the US$20 departure security fee, GCAA departure charges, screening, onward health papers and overstaying your entry stamp.
- Airlines and routes at Banjul International Airport
Which airlines sell flights to Banjul, which routes official and press sources name, and passenger and flight numbers from official statistics.
- Cargo and freight charges at Banjul International Airport
Who handles air cargo at Banjul, the last published handling and storage rates, aircraft charges, customs steps, freight volumes and liability limits.