Source – https://linetekeu.substack.com/p/cameroon-through-new-eyes-3-airports
Since my sister and I live in different countries—she is in Canada, and I am in the United States—we met in Paris and flew together to Douala.
Growing up, Cameroon had its own national airline, Cameroon Airlines, which was a true source of pride. I still vividly remember my first international flight with my parents aboard the Cameroon Airlines Boeing 747 when I was 8. My father had booked first-class tickets for a family vacation to France, and even though I was quite young, the experience left a lasting impression. I was amazed by the level of service and the sense of importance that came with flying first class in a Cameroonian aircraft.
At its peak, Cameroon Airlines connected the country to major destinations across Africa, Europe, and even the Middle East. But after operating from 1973 to 2008, the airline ceased to exist. Today, traveling to Africa means relying on non-African carriers—often making the journey longer, more expensive, and more complicated.
So, after some back-and-forth, my sister and I had decided to not take a layover in Brussels, Belgium for our connection flight. Honestly, when it comes to long-haul flights to Africa from the United States, the only airport that rivals Paris for comfort is Schiphol in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I used to love it there when my kids were younger. I have been trying to steer clear of Brussels, especially when heading to Africa. Indeed, my first experience there, two years ago while traveling to Cameroon for my sister’s funeral, was quite unpleasant. It left me feeling like a second-class traveler, stuck in a forgotten corner of Brussels airport with nothing to do while I waited. So, when it came to choosing between budget and comfort, I was all for the latter.
There are no direct flights from the United States or Canada to Central Africa, so traveling from Washington, D.C. to Douala via Paris takes a full 24 hours. Most flights depart in the late afternoon or evening, so I left Washington, D.C. the day before and arrived in Paris early the next morning.
In the airport in Paris, I grabbed a quick breakfast while waiting for my sister, who landed about two hours later. We spent the layover catching up, finalizing our travel plans, browsing a few airport shops, and chatting with a fellow traveler who had recognized my sister from their shared flight from Montreal to Chicago to Paris. He, too, was heading to Cameroon. Indeed, this time of year, many travelers to Cameroon aren’t flying for leisure, but rather for more somber reasons—funerals, in particular. His final destination was Buea. We learned that, after years of unrest, travel to this town—just 45 miles from Douala and long plagued by conflict and insecurity—had finally resumed.
