Malawi has two international airports: Kamuzu International (LLW) in Lilongwe and Chileka International (BLZ) in Blantyre. Almost every visitor arrives through one of them. Lists online mention 12, 22 or even 39 “airports,” but most of those are grass or gravel airstrips that serve safari lodges, charter pilots and the occasional government flight.
This guide covers the airports you can realistically use, what each one is good for, and how to choose.
Table of Contents
- TLDR
- Malawi Airports at a Glance
- Kamuzu International Airport (LLW), Lilongwe
- Chileka International Airport (BLZ), Blantyre
- Why the Airport Count Keeps Changing
- Domestic Airports and Airstrips
- Which Airport Should You Fly Into?
- Arrival Tips
TLDR
- Fly into Lilongwe (LLW) for the capital, Lake Malawi’s central shore, Nkhotakota and the north. It has the most international connections.
- Fly into Blantyre (BLZ) for Mulanje, Zomba, Liwonde National Park and the southern end of the lake.
- Both are small. Expect a few flights a day, not a few hundred.
- Internal flights exist but are thin and change often. Most travelers drive or hire a charter.
Malawi Airports at a Glance
| Airport | City | ICAO / IATA | Type | Closest to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamuzu International | Lilongwe | FWKI / LLW | International | Lilongwe, Salima, Nkhotakota, central lake |
| Chileka International | Blantyre | FWCL / BLZ | International | Blantyre, Mulanje, Zomba, Liwonde |
| Mzuzu Airport | Mzuzu | FWUU / ZZU | Domestic | Nkhata Bay, Nyika Plateau, the north |
| Karonga Airport | Karonga | FWKA / KGJ | Domestic, limited | Far northern lakeshore |
| Club Makokola | Mangochi | FWCM / CMK | Domestic airstrip | Southern lakeshore resorts |
| Likoma Airport | Likoma Island | FWLK / LIX | Domestic airstrip | Likoma and Chizumulu islands |
| Chelinda | Nyika National Park | none (airstrip) | Charter | Nyika Plateau |
Service on the smaller fields comes and goes, so check with your airline or lodge before building a trip around one.
Kamuzu International Airport (LLW), Lilongwe
Kamuzu International is Malawi’s main gateway. It’s named after Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the country’s first president, and it sits roughly 25 km north of central Lilongwe. The terminal is compact. You’ll clear immigration, collect your bag and be outside quickly unless two flights land together.
Airlines and routes. Regional hubs carry most of the traffic: Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Nairobi (Kenya Airways) and Johannesburg (Airlink). Malawi Airlines, the national carrier that replaced the old Air Malawi, runs domestic and regional routes, often in partnership with Ethiopian. Schedules shift, so confirm before you book.
Getting to town. Taxis wait outside and the ride to Lilongwe takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Agree on the fare before you get in, since meters aren’t a thing. Hotels and lodges will usually arrange a pickup for a set price, which is easier after a long flight. Minibuses run along the road but are crowded and slow with luggage.
Facilities. Expect a few shops, a café, currency exchange and ATMs. It isn’t a place to linger. Arrive with kwacha or a card that works, and don’t count on the exchange rate being generous.
Chileka International Airport (BLZ), Blantyre
Chileka is the second international airport and the smaller of the two. It sits about 15 km north of Blantyre, in the hills. Flights are fewer, and the terminal is quieter. Pickup is usually easy.
Airlines and routes. Johannesburg is the main international link, with Airlink on the route. Malawi Airlines connects Blantyre with Lilongwe and other domestic points when schedules allow.
Getting to town. A taxi to central Blantyre takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. As in Lilongwe, set the price first. If you’re heading straight to Mulanje or Liwonde, ask your accommodation to send a driver rather than going through town.
Why choose it. Chileka puts you hours closer to the southern half of the country. Mulanje Massif, the tea estates at Thyolo, Zomba Plateau and Liwonde National Park are all easier from here than from the capital.
Why the Airport Count Keeps Changing
Searches for airports in Malawi return conflicting totals because sources count different things.
- Airports with IATA codes are the ones airlines can sell tickets to. That’s a short list.
- Airports with ICAO codes include airstrips used by pilots but never by commercial schedules. That list runs to a couple of dozen.
- Everything with a runway is a third, longer count, and includes small private or lodge strips.
Only two airports have regular international scheduled service. Older sources that mention “two scheduled airports” describe a situation that has mostly held, but some domestic fields have opened and closed since then.
Domestic Airports and Airstrips
Mzuzu (ZZU). The main northern airport. It serves Mzuzu city and is the practical landing point for Nkhata Bay and Nyika. Scheduled service has been intermittent, so confirm it’s flying before you plan around it.
Karonga (KGJ). Far in the north, near the Tanzanian border. Few visitors use it.
Club Makokola (CMK) near Mangochi. A resort-oriented strip on the southern lakeshore. It’s more useful for charters than for scheduled flights.
Likoma (LIX). Likoma Island sits in the Mozambican part of Lake Malawi but belongs to Malawi. There’s an airstrip. Otherwise you get there by boat, so the airstrip matters if you want to skip a long ferry.
Chelinda. An airstrip on the Nyika Plateau, used by safari operators. Not a public airport.
Safari and lake flights. Charter operators fly small planes between Lilongwe, Liwonde, Majete, Nyika and lake lodges. They’re expensive compared with driving, but they save a full day on some routes. Book through your lodge or a tour operator.
Which Airport Should You Fly Into?
| If you’re going to… | Fly into |
|---|---|
| Lilongwe city, Nkhotakota, Senga Bay, Salima | Lilongwe (LLW) |
| Cape Maclear / southern lake | Either, Lilongwe is a longer drive but has more flights |
| Liwonde National Park, Zomba, Mulanje | Blantyre (BLZ) |
| Majete Wildlife Reserve | Blantyre (BLZ) |
| Nkhata Bay, Mzuzu, Nyika Plateau | Lilongwe (LLW) plus a domestic flight or a long drive |
| A trip crossing the whole country | Open-jaw: arrive in one, leave from the other |
If you only want one rule: pick the airport nearer the part of Malawi where you’ll spend most of your time, and use the other for departure. Flying into Lilongwe and out of Blantyre saves a backtrack of about 350 km.
Arrival Tips
- Visa and entry. Rules change, so check the current requirements for your nationality before you fly. The UK government’s Malawi travel advice is regularly updated and covers entry rules and security.
- Health. Yellow fever vaccination rules can apply if you’ve arrived from an affected country, and malaria is a concern across the country. The CDC’s Malawi destination page lists current recommendations.
- Money. Bring some US dollars in newer, undamaged notes, and expect to pay a departure tax or airport fee that may already be included in your ticket. Confirm with the airline.
- Buffer time. Flights are few, so a missed or cancelled one can mean a day’s wait. Don’t schedule an international departure the same day as a domestic leg.
- Charters. Weight limits on small planes are strict, often 15 kg in a soft bag. Pack accordingly.
