Arusha Airport
Arusha Airport is a domestic airport located in Arusha city, a business hub of Tanzania and a tourist hub as well for travellers visiting the northern safari circuit of Tanzania, in the northern region of the Republic of Tanzania. Arusha Airport, with IATA code ARK, and ICAO code HTAR, is one of the 59 airports managed, maintained and operated by the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), categorised under Group II category. Arusha Airport operates as a domestic airport only, located in the western part of Arusha city roughly 7km from Arusha City Centre. Arusha Airport is at an elevation of 4567 feet above mean sea level, with an average temperature of 23 degrees.
Arusha Airport History
Arusha Airport was built in 1956 by Colonel Grey, a large scale farmer cultivating coffee and sorghum in areas of Burka and Mateves. When Tanzania, then Tanganyika gained her independence in the year 1961, Arusha Airport was officially handed over to the government of Tanzania. Arusha Airport was run by the East African Airways but when the East African Community came to an end, the airport was handed back to be managed by the Agricultural department to run the airport, in the year 1977. With the inception of the Tanzania Airports Authority however, Arusha Airport has since been under the management of the Tanzania Airports Authority. According to the ICAO standards, Annex 14, Aerodrome design manual, Arusha Airport is classified as a code 3C airport.
Currently, Arusha Airport, has a 1860 meter length runway, 30m wide and an orientation of 09 and 27. Arusha Airport has five taxiways that is Taxiway A, B, C, D and P which is the Parallel taxiway of 500m length and a width of 7.5, joining the remote apron runway 09 and taxiway A. Arusha Airport has two main aprons, including;
· Main Apron area which has an area of 15000 square meters, whose capacity can park Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 at once.
· Remote apron with a facility of 8925 square meters with a capacity of parking aircrafts with less than 12 tonnes.
Arusha Airport has a capacity of accommodating up to 219 passengers at departure section, at a time.
Arusha Airport operates only 12 hours a dy, that is from sun rise to sunset. This simply means that Arusha Airport does not work or operate in the night.
Currently, Arusha Airport is served by only eight airlines with scheduled flights in and out of Arusha Airport/. These include;
I. Air Tanzania. Air Tanzania has scheduled flights to and from Arusha Airport and Dar es Salaam.
II. Precision Air. Precision Air has scheduled flights to Dar es Salaam, as well as Zanzibar from Arusha Airport.
III. Coastal Aviation. Coastal Aviation has scheduled flights to and from Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Kigali, Mafia Island, Lake Manyara National park, Mikumi National Park, Pemba Island, Ruaha National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Serengeti National Park, Seronera, Tanga, Tarangire National Park, as well as Zanzibar.
IV. Air Excel. This operates flights to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Serengeti National Park as well as Lake Manyara National Park.
V. Regional Air. Operates scheduled flights to Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara and Zanzibar.
VI. Tropical Air. Operates scheduled flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
VII. Safari Plus. Operates scheduled flights to Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park.
VIII. Zan Air. Flights to Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Pemba and Zanzibar Island
Given that Arusha city is a tourist hub, most travellers do use Arusha Airport getting around say from Arusha airport to Serengeti, Arusha airport to Zanzibar, Arusha Airport to Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania, as well as Arusha Airport to Lake Manyara, and so many other destinations. This is usually an option for those travellers who would rather fly than drive for 2-8 hours to the various Tanzania safari destinations, say the 7-8 hour drive to Serengeti National Park.
Arush Airport has airport services like shops and facilities, ground handling, ample parking, fuelling points from Puma Energy Tanzania Ltd, free Wi-Fi, as well as a number of hotels to book one’s stay if need be. Arusha airport hotels that travellers can book for stay include Grace Land Hotel, Arusha Crown Hotel, Silver Hotel, Noura Springs Hotel, Mount Meru Hotel, among so many others.
Travelling from any part of Tanzania and looking to get to Arusha city for your much anticipated Tanzania safari tour in the northern safari circuit? Arusha Airport should be your destination. Alternatively, you could fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport from where your tour operator should be able to pick you to start your much anticipated Tanzania safari tour. Liaise with your trusted tour operator to help you with the best way to get to your various destinations.
