Arusha Airport was established in 1956 by Colonel Grey. It is an important domestic airport in northern Tanzania and plays a key role in connecting travelers to safari destinations. According to ICAO regulations under Annex 14 of the Aerodrome Design Manual, Arusha Airport is classified as a Code 3C airport.
Arusha Airport has one main runway with a total length of about 1,860 meters and a width of 30 meters. The runway orientation is 09 and 27, which allows aircraft to land and take off depending on wind direction. This runway size is suitable for small and medium domestic aircraft.
The airport has five taxiways named Taxiway A, B, C, D, and P. Taxiway P is the parallel taxiway and is about 500 meters long with a width of 7.5 meters. It connects the remote apron to runway 09 and Taxiway A. These taxiways help aircraft move safely between the runway and parking areas.
Arusha Airport has two main apron areas. The main apron covers about 15,000 square meters and can park aircraft such as the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400. The remote apron has an area of about 8,925 square meters and is used for smaller aircraft with a weight of less than 12 tonnes. These apron areas support smooth aircraft parking and ground operations.
Arusha is known as the gateway to the northern tourism circuit of Tanzania. The city has two airports, Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha Domestic Airport. Arusha Airport mainly serves travelers using small aircraft for domestic flights. It connects Arusha to many parts of Tanzania and also receives flights from other regions within the country.
There are about 59 airports in Tanzania managed by the Tanzania Airports Authority. Arusha Airport is certified by IATA and uses the airport code ARK. It is categorized as a group two airport, meaning it operates only domestic flights.
The airport is located on the western side of Arusha, about 7 kilometers from the city center. It sits at an elevation of about 4,565 feet above sea level. The average temperature around the airport is about 23 degrees Celsius, which supports safe flight operations throughout the year.
Arusha Airport remains an important travel point for safari visitors heading to northern Tanzania parks and attractions.
