Roberts International Airport (RIA), also known as Robertsfield, is the primary international airport in Liberia, West Africa. Located near Harbel, approximately 35 miles (56 km) from Monrovia, the nation's capital, it serves as the country's busiest and most vital aviation facility.
Roberts International Airport
History and Development
RIA's history is deeply intertwined with both World War II and the story of Pan American World Airways. The airport was originally constructed by the US Government as a base during the Second World War, following Liberia's signing of a Defense Pact with the United States in 1942. This agreement led to strategic road building and other construction projects related to US military interests.
From the end of World War II until 1985, the airport was administered and operated by Pan American under contract with the Republic of Liberia's Ministry of Transport. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, RIA became Pan Am's principal African hub, offering nonstop Boeing 747 service from New York JFK to destinations like Dakar, Accra, Abidjan, Lagos, and Conakry, with onward connections to Nairobi and Johannesburg.
In 1985, the Liberian Government assumed control of the airport. However, RIA suffered severe damage during the civil war in Liberia in 1990, when the runway was bombed and the main terminal building burned down. Both the runway and the terminal building became inoperable, leading to the airport's closure.
Read also: Impact of Firestone on Liberia
Facilities and Infrastructure
The airport was initially built with two runways but now has a single 3,400m-long runway. Two aprons were constructed in asphalt pavement measuring around 57,000m2. The RIA’s control tower is located at the airport’s southern end.
RIA has two terminals. Special baggage carts are available at the baggage claim area. A banking and foreign exchange service is provided outside the main terminal building.
A major renovation project, launched in 2018, aimed to overhaul nearly every aspect of the airport to meet international civil aviation regulations and accommodate expanded passenger and cargo operations. The previous 57,000-square-metre (610,000 sq ft) tarmac apron was expanded to 85,000 square metres (910,000 sq ft).
The new 5,000 m2 two-level main passenger facility salvaged the structure of the airport's original terminal, which had been destroyed during the Civil War. It is designed to handle 320,000 passengers per year. The ground floor features a departures hall with check-in desks and security screening, and an arrivals hall baggage handling, baggage claim with international-standard luggage carousels as well as a waiting area to greet passengers. The upper level is a departures gallery with retail spaces and a business lounge.
The total project funding was reported to be US$80m-the new passenger terminal costing $50m, while the runway refurbishment was completed at a cost of $30m. China's Export-Import (EXIM) Bank financed the new terminal project through a 22-month, $49.8m concessional loan, whereas the runway refurbishment was financed by $20m from the Saudi Fund for Development, $10m from the Arab Bank for Economic Development for Africa, and $3m from the Government of Liberia.
Read also: Discover Liberia
Airlines and Destinations
Passenger and cargo airlines operate from Roberts International Airport. Currently, the airport hosts the country's only scheduled commercial airline services, offering direct connections to several major cities in West Africa as well as flights to Europe on Brussels Airlines.
The passenger airlines include Brussels Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Kenya Airways, Air Peace.
Delta Air Lines briefly offered service between Atlanta and Monrovia, but the service was suspended indefinitely shortly before its planned launch due to security concerns. However, the route was later launched with a stop in Accra.
Several African flag carriers utilized Robertsfield as a waystation on transatlantic routes. Nigeria Airways began a codeshare cooperation on Pan Am's flights to New York-JFK from Lagos via Monrovia as early as 1966.
The USAID-funded operations and emergency works are contracted to Global Business Solutions. The contract for the supply and installation of the navigation, aeronautical, meteorological and security equipment at RIA has been awarded to Systems Interface. The Liberian Government has allocated $200,000 for the renovation of the existing terminal building.
Read also: Living Expenses in Liberia
Here's a summary of airlines operating at Roberts International Airport as of November 2023:
| Airline | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Brussels Airlines | Europe |
| Royal Air Maroc | Casablanca |
| Kenya Airways | Nairobi |
| Air Peace | Monrovia, regional destinations |
Note: Airline routes and schedules are subject to change.
Incidents and Accidents
- On 3 February 1944 a 26 Squadron SAAF Vickers Wellington Bomber (HZ524) trying to land at Roberts Field in darkness and fog overshot the runway and hit a tree. The burned-out remains were found 4 kilometres from the airfield. All crew members perished.
- On 5 March 1967, a Varig Douglas DC-8-33 operating flight 837 from Rome-Fiumicino to Monrovia caught fire after a mistaken approach to Monrovia, missing the threshold of the runway by 1,836 m (6,023 ft).
- On 19 April 1975, an Air Liberia Douglas C-47A was damaged beyond economic repair in a take-off accident.
- On 13 January 1989, an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154S overran the runway following a rejected takeoff at Monrovia - Roberts International Airport.
- On 29 May 2025, a private jet carrying Liberian president Joseph Boakai from a visit to Nigeria made a rough landing at the airport after its tires burst upon landing, prompting the cancellation of all overnight flights.
Spriggs Payne Airport
James Spriggs Payne Airport (IATA: MLW, ICAO: GLMR) is located 5 kilometres (3 mi) from downtown Monrovia. The airfield is located within the busy and thickly settled Sinkor section of the city, and is therefore convenient to the business and political districts of the capital.
Spriggs Payne Airport
Spriggs-Payne has the only other paved runway in Liberia and once had the only other international commercial flights into and out of Liberia. Spriggs-Payne was the primary location for domestic services within Liberia since the 1950s.
Since early 1991, Spriggs-Payne has handled limited international flights. From 2008 until mid-2010, scheduled commercial services were operated by Cameroon-based Elysian Airlines. Elysian ceased operating in mid-2010, and the airport was left for a period without any scheduled commercial service.
Spriggs-Payne underwent a runway refurbishment during 2011 and 2012, necessitating the cessation of most flight operations. During this construction, ASKY transferred its Liberia operations to Robertsfield. However, once the runway resurfacing was complete, ASKY returned to Spriggs in mid-2013.
The airport facility consists of a collection of small, single-story buildings. The terminal itself has a passenger x-ray screening area at the entrance, a waiting room with satellite televisions, and a small bar. The airport is also equipped with immigration facilities to handle international arrivals.
LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT 2025 | ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (RIA) ROAD PROJECT TOUR
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
