
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, located off the coast of East Africa. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and diverse wildlife. Getting to Zanzibar is easy, as the region is home to the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, the main airport in the Zanzibar Archipelago. This airport is located on Unguja Island, about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar. It offers flights to and from various destinations in East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. In this article, we will explore the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in more detail, including its history, facilities, and transportation options. We will also provide information on alternative airports for travelling to and from Zanzibar.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport in Zanzibar | Abeid Amani Karume International Airport |
| Former names | Kisauni Airport, Zanzibar International Airport |
| Location | Unguja Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania |
| Distance from Zanzibar City | 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) |
| Destinations | East Africa, Europe, the Middle East |
| Terminals | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
- Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport in Zanzibar
- The airport is located on Unguja Island, 5km south of Zanzibar City
- Terminal 2 serves domestic and some international flights
- Terminal 3 serves international flights and started operations in early 2021
- The closest major airport to Zanzibar is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport in Zanzibar
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It is located on Unguja Island, about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar. The airport was previously known as Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport. In 2010, it was renamed in honour of Abeid Amani Karume, the island's first president.
The airport has two active terminals. Terminal 2 serves both domestic and some international flights, while Terminal 3 serves international flights. A new third terminal was inaugurated in September 2020 and started operating in early 2021. The new terminal replaced the old Terminal 2 for international flights, and it offers faster passport checks and more visa stations. The airport has flights to East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
The Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) is the statutory body responsible for the operation of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and Pemba Airport. The Authority has been in operation since 2011, providing high-quality and efficient airport services and facilities across the region and worldwide.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the closest major airport to Zanzibar, with a distance of approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) from the island. It is a small airport with a range of facilities, including a lounge, souvenir shops, cafes, and gift shops. The airport has received mixed reviews on TripAdvisor, with some praising the cleanliness and services, while others have criticised the slow passport checks and rude staff.
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The airport is located on Unguja Island, 5km south of Zanzibar City
Zanzibar's main airport is the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, located on Unguja Island, 5km south of Zanzibar City. It is also known by the codes ZNZ and HTZA, and was previously called Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport. The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 3 serving international flights and Terminal 2 serving domestic and some international flights. It offers flights to East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
The airport is named after Abeid Amani Karume, Zanzibar's first president. It is operated by the Zanzibar Airports Authority, which is responsible for government airport operations in the region. The authority also operates Pemba Airport.
Reviews of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on TripAdvisor are mixed. Some travellers have praised the airport's cleanliness, cafes, and shops, while others have criticised the slow passport checks and rude staff. The airport's physical framework has been described as "fine", but the safety and organisation as "completely ridiculous".
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the closest major airport to Zanzibar, with the next nearest airports being Julius Nyerere International Airport (79km away) and Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kenya (241km away).
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Terminal 2 serves domestic and some international flights
Zanzibar's main airport is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ / HTZA), located on Unguja Island, about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar. The airport has flights to and from East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport has three terminals. Terminal 2 serves domestic and some international flights. Terminal 3, which was inaugurated in September 2020 and began operating in early 2021, also serves international flights. The new terminal replaced the existing apron of 21,000 square metres (230,000 sq ft) with a new one of 100,000 square metres (1,100,000 sq ft), increasing the airport's capacity to 1.5 million passengers per year.
Terminal 2 was previously the only terminal serving international flights until Terminal 3 was opened. Some airlines that previously operated out of Terminal 2, such as Oman Air and Ethiopian, have since moved to Terminal 3. However, some travellers have reported that all flights to and from Europe in February were diverted to the old Zanzibar airport, which is located about 200 metres from the new Terminal 3 and remains inexplicably unused.
Terminal 2 continues to serve domestic flights to destinations within Tanzania, such as Nyerere National Park. Travellers have reported long wait times and slow passport checks at Terminal 2, although others have noted that Terminal 3 has faster passport checks, with six open visa stations available upon arrival.
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Terminal 3 serves international flights and started operations in early 2021
Zanzibar's main airport is the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, located on Unguja Island, about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar. The airport has been serving international flights to and from East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport was previously known as Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport. In 2010, it was renamed in honour of Abeid Amani Karume, Zanzibar's first president. The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 1 being inactive and Terminal 2 serving both domestic and some international flights.
Terminal 3 of the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport specifically caters to international flights and started operations in early 2021. The new terminal was constructed by the Chinese Beijing Construction Engineering Group, with construction beginning in January 2011. The terminal was initially expected to be operational by 2014, but financial and technical challenges caused delays.
The new Terminal 3 enhances the airport's capacity, providing improved facilities and services for passengers travelling to and from Zanzibar. The terminal features efficient passport checks, visa stations, luggage collection areas, and a range of amenities, including a cafe, gift shops, and a lounge with a bar.
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The closest major airport to Zanzibar is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
Zanzibar is an archipelago located in Tanzania, and it does indeed have an airport. In fact, there are two airports in Zanzibar operated by the Zanzibar Airports Authority: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and Pemba Airport. The closest major airport to Zanzibar is Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, which is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar. The airport is named after Abeid Amani Karume, Zanzibar's first president. It was previously known as Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport in the Zanzibar Archipelago and is located on Unguja Island. It has flights to East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 3 serving international flights and Terminal 2 serving domestic and some international flights. The new Terminal 3 was inaugurated in September 2020 and started operating in early 2021, with a capacity to serve up to 1.5 million passengers per year.
Reviews of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport on Tripadvisor are mixed. Some travellers have praised the airport for its cleanliness and the availability of gift shops and cafes. However, others have mentioned issues with slow passport checks and disorganisation. It is recommended to expect potential delays when passing through passport control and security checks.
When planning a trip to or from Zanzibar, it is always a good idea to check the latest information and reviews for the airport to be well-informed about any potential changes or improvements.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Zanzibar has an international airport called Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. It is located on Unguja Island, about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar.
The closest major airport to Zanzibar is the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ / HTZA). Other nearby airports include Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR / HTDA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Moi International Airport (MBA / HKMO) in Mombasa, Kenya.
The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 3 serving international flights and Terminal 2 serving domestic and some international flights. The airport has a lounge with a bar and souvenir shops, and there are several cafes and gift shops. However, some travellers have noted that passport checks can be slow, and there are often additional security checks upon arrival at the gate.

















