Kilimanjaro International Airport – Quick Overview, History, Airlines & More

JRO Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania – Quick Overview, History, Airlines & More

Where is Kilimanjaro International Airport?

Kilimanjaro International Airport KIA is an international airport located in Northern Tanzania. It serves the cities of Moshi and Arusha, whereby the distance from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha is about 51.7 kilometres by car. In 2014, the airport served 802,731 travelers. It mainly operates flights within the region and a number of long-haul services because of its significance as a vacation destination.

Kilimanjaro International Airport code is IATA: JRO, ICAO: HTKJ.

Overview of Kilimanjaro International Airport Tanzania

KLM Boeing parked at the Kilimanjaro International Airport waiting for passengers
KLM Boeing parked at the Kilimanjaro International Airport waiting for passengers

Many foreign visitors to Tanzania visit places such as national parks, the coast of the Indian Ocean, Lake Victoria and islands like Zanzibar. This trend reflects in the paths of travelers who usually fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Despite its small size, the Kilimanjaro International Airport arrivals and departures handles large airplanes like Antonov 124 and Boeing 747. The Kilimanjaro International Airport served 665,147 travellers in 2012, representing a 3.7% increase from 2011. It also served 802,371 travellers in 2014. Of this figure, 45% were foreign travellers, 38% were local travellers, while 17% were travellers in transit.

The Tanzanian and Dutch governments signed a grant agreement to refurbish the Kilimanjaro International Airport. The refurbishment includes taxiways, terminal buildings and aprons. It is expected that the project will cost €35.5 million, with the Dutch government paying €15 million while the Tanzanian government pays the rest. The Dutch government paid for the already-completed design phase of the project. Renovation works started at the Kilimanjaro International Airport in November 2015. The renovation was geared towards doubling the airport’s capacity from the present 600,000 to 1.2 million passengers annually. BAM International, a subsidiary of the Royal BAM Group, is handling the renovation project at the cost of $39.7 million. Renovations are expected to be completed by May 2017.

History

The Kilimanjaro International Airport was formally opened on December 2, 1971. The construction of the Kilimanjaro International Airport cost $13 million. A long-term loan from the Italian government was used to finance the construction. In 1998, it became the first international airport to be denationalized in Africa. The Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company now manages it. The Kilimanjaro International Airport aids the tourism sector for guests travelling to Arusha National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park and other places. The Kilimanjaro International Airport calls itself the “Gateway to Africa’s Wildlife Heritage.”

Ngorongoro Conservation Area - one of the many destinations tourists landing at Kilimanjaro airport go to
Ngorongoro Conservation Area – one of the many destinations tourists landing at Kilimanjaro airport go to

Which Airlines Fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport?

Kilimanjaro International Airport Flights and Air Carriers

The 14 air carriers presented below operate regular flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport Tanzania and from it:

Air Carrier Destination(s)
Coastal Aviation Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Lake Manyara, and Seronera
Precision Air Zanzibar, , Mwanza, Entebbe and Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta), Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro International Airport
Air Tanzania Zanzibar, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam
Regional Air Services Lake Manyara and Arusha
Kenya Airways Flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro International Airport
Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa
Airkenya Express Nairobi (Wilson)
flydubai Dubai (International)
Qatar Airways Doha
KLM Amsterdam
RwandAir Kigali
Uganda Airlines Entebbe
Safarilink Aviation Nairobi (Wilson)
Turkish Airlines Istanbul

There are also numerous options in terms of international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, including but not limited to:

  • Chicago to Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Flights from johannesburg to Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • LAX to Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • New York to Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Seattle to Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Flight from London to Kilimanjaro International Airport

It is just a matter of figuring out first what airlines fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport and proceed accordingly.

Note that:

  • Qatar Airways’ Kilimanjaro International Airport departures to Doha make a stop in Dar es Salaam. However, the air carrier does not have a traffic license to convey passengers solely between Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam.
  • KLM’s outgoing flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Amsterdam make a stop in Dar es Salaam. However, the air carrier does not have a traffic license to convey passengers solely between Kilimanjaro region and Dar es Salaam.
  • Turkish Airlines’ incoming flights from Istanbul make a stop in Zanzibar. However, the air carrier does not have a traffic license to convey passengers solely between Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro.
  • For airfare to Kilimanjaro International Airport, please consult the specific airline you will be using.

Kilimanjaro International Airport Location and Contacts

Kilimanjaro International Airport Address

Physical Address:

Kilimanjaro Airport Rd, Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Region

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 10, KIA, Hai-Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Phone numbers:

Tel:+255(0)272554252
Tel:+255(0)272554252

Email: kadco@go.tz

Kilimanjaro International Airport JRO – Other Important Information

Car rental Kilimanjaro International AirportExpedia would be a great place to find out what car rental companies operate at KIA and booking them.

Expedia will also be a recommended engine to find a cheap flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Airport Planet Lodge Kilimanjaro International Airport

The brand new KIA lodge Kilimanjaro International Airport is approximately five miles away from the airport its. Situated between Arusha and Moshi, popularly known for the great opportunity it provides to visitors in terms of enjoying the view and beauty of both Mount Meru and Mountain Kilimanjaro.

Hotels near Kilimanjaro International Airport – Please consult search engines such as Tripadvisor, they would have the most updated list as there is a lot of Mount Kilimanjaro International Airport hotel options of accommodations that have sprang up around the airport due to the rapid economic growth of the country.

You can explore more articles related to airports in Tanzania by clicking here!

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