Home Arrow FAQs Arrow Does Arusha have an international airport?

Does Arusha have an international airport?

Yes, Arusha is served by an international airport, but with an important distinction. Arusha does not have an international airport within the city limits.  Instead‌, Kilimanj‌aro Intern‌ation‌al Airport (JRO‌), servici‌ng Arusha, is situat‌ed approxi‌matel‌y 50 kilom‌eters (abo‌ut one hour'‌s drive) from the city center. Ther‌efore‌, although Arus‌ha lacks a full‌-fled‌ged intern‌ation‌al airport with‌in its city limits, it is read‌ily served by a near‌by interna‌tiona‌l airport.‌

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO): Serving Arusha

Kilim‌anjar‌o Internat‌ional Airp‌ort serves as the primary inte‌rnati‌onal airpo‌rt for traveler‌s seeking desti‌natio‌ns in Arusha‌, Moshi, and Mount Kilima‌njaro‌.  JRO is managed by Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO), a government-owned entity under the Tanzania Airports Authority

  • The location: Situated between Arusha and Moshi, near the small town of Boma Ng’ombe.
  • Distance: Around 45–50 km from Arusha and 40 km from Moshi.
  • International Flights: JRO handles international flights to and from major destinations such as Amsterdam (with the KLM), Doha (with Qatar Airways), Istanbul (with Turkish Airlines), and Nairobi (with Kenya Airways) among others come to it.

JRO also facilitates the regional and domestic flight services, which connect the customers with Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Mwanza, and Serengeti safari airstrips.

Arusha Airport (ARK): Not International

Arusha Airport (ARK) on the other hand is a local airport only 8 km away in the Arusha city centre. It only deals with smaller aircrafts and domestic flights.

  • IATA Code: ARK
  • Airlines: Local companies include Precision Air, Air Tanzania and Coastal Aviation. These airlines mainly serve regional routes and safari destinations
  • Destinations: Mostly flies to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Serengeti, and other game reserves.
  • No immigration/customs: As ARK is not designated as an international airport, it cannot process international arrivals or departures

Transport Between Arusha and JRO

The vast majority of international travellers on their way to Arusha arrive in Kilimanjaro International Airport and proceed on a private transfer, a taxi or a shuttle bus to the city of Arusha. The trip is normally 60-75 minutes depending on the traffic.

A number of safari and hotel companies can also arrange pick up at the airport, particularly those visiting the nearby Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Crater or the mount Kilimanjaro.

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