Nouakchott International Airport has closed to all traffic following the opening of the recently completed Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport on June 23.

The first commercial flight to use the new airfield was a Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) service from Istanbul Atatürk while the last to use the old one was a Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Mohamed V) service bound for Casablanca Mohamed V.

The site of the old airfield has now been turned over to Oumtounsy's contractor, Najah for Major Works (NMW), as part of their payment agreement with the Mauritanian government.

As it stands, the new airport is capable of handling 2million passenger per annum and boasts a freight terminal, four jetways, a VIP reception area, and a pair of runways the largest of which measures 3,400mx60m.

It will be used as an official reception point for delegates attending the League of Arab States (LAS) summit in Nouakchott on July 25 and 26, 2016.