Chileka International Airport (IATA: BLZ, ICAO: FWCL) is Malawi's second international gateway, located 13 kilometers northwest of Blantyre, the country's commercial and financial capital . Operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malawi, this public airport sits at 779 meters elevation and serves as the primary entry point for travelers heading to southern Malawi's premier safari destinations, including Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park . The airport features two asphalt runways—a 2,325-meter main runway and a 1,372-meter secondary runway—capable of handling regional and international aircraft .

For safari travelers, Chileka offers a faster alternative to Lilongwe's Kamuzu International Airport when accessing the country's Big Five reserves. From the airport, most safari itineraries involve a 1-3 hour road transfer to lodges in Liwonde or Majete, where visitors experience game drives, river boat safaris on the Shire River, and walking safaris . The airport's southern location makes it ideal for multi-country safari circuits combining Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique .

Safari operators on SafariFind can arrange seamless airport transfers and coordinate your entire Malawi safari package, from arrival logistics through game drives and accommodation. Most international flights connect through regional hubs like Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa before reaching Chileka . The airport handles business aviation through iJET's FBO services, offering charter flight options for travelers seeking direct access to remote safari lodges .

Chileka International Airport (IATA: BLZ, ICAO: FWCL) is Malawi's second international gateway, located 13 kilometers northwest of Blantyre, the country's commercial and financial capital . Operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malawi, this public airport sits at 779 meters elevation and serves as the primary entry point for travelers heading to southern Malawi's premier safari destinations, including Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park . The airport features two asphalt runways—a 2,325-meter main runway and a 1,372-meter secondary runway—capable of handling regional and international aircraft .

For safari travelers, Chileka offers a faster alternative to Lilongwe's Kamuzu International Airport when accessing the country's Big Five reserves. From the airport, most safari itineraries involve a 1-3 hour road transfer to lodges in Liwonde or Majete, where visitors experience game drives, river boat safaris on the Shire River, and walking safaris . The airport's southern location makes it ideal for multi-country safari circuits combining Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique .

Safari operators on SafariFind can arrange seamless airport transfers and coordinate your entire Malawi safari package, from arrival logistics through game drives and accommodation. Most international flights connect through regional hubs like Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa before reaching Chileka . The airport handles business aviation through iJET's FBO services, offering charter flight options for travelers seeking direct access to remote safari lodges .