The airport is located 27 km (16 miles) south of the capital Yaounde, near Nsimalen in Cameroon's Centre Region.

[4] Starting operations in 1991,[5] Nsimalen was built to supersede the old international airport in Yaounde that was getting absorbed by the rapid growth of the city, it was also too close to the oil deposits of SCDP ("Société Camerounaise de Dépôts Pétroliers" or Cameroon Oil Storage Company).

The government has set a goal of servicing 1.5 million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo per year.

[6] Nsimalen International Airport is equipped with modern facilities and can be accessed through four gates.

Inside the terminal there are 10 check-in desks, currency exchange office, post office, restaurants, tourist information centre, business centre, banks and car rental, limousine services and taxi services.