2/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“It is an easy airport except for the constant taxation everywhere.”
Lengdung Tungchamma5★ on Google
Airports / Nigeria / CBQ
Medium airport · CBQ
Margaret Ekpo International Airport.
Calabar, Nigeria · 210 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.0/5
Google rating
822 ratings
0
Operators based
210
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Calabar, NigeriaELEV 210 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.0
Google rating
822
Google reviews
ratings on Google
210
Field elevation
feet above sea level
16
Nearest alternate
nm to QUO
Field standing
#7 / 29
Nigeria airports by Google rating
4.0★ across 822 Google ratings , ranked against 29 rated Nigeria fields.
16 nm
To the nearest alternate
Akwa Ibom International Airport (QUO).
Overview
Margaret Ekpo International Airport (DNCA / CBQ) is a mid-sized airport serving Calabar, Nigeria. The airport sits 210 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into CBQ for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Akwa Ibom International Airport (QUO, 16 nm), Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW, 73 nm), and Malabo International Airport (SSG, 76 nm). With a single 8,040-foot paved runway, CBQ can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from CBQ depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Calabar.
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What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Margaret Ekpo International Airport is a well-maintained, modest regional airport with good cleanliness and friendly staff, making it comfortable for domestic travel.”
Neno.O4★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Margaret Ekpo International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
DNCA
IATA
CBQ
FAA / Local
DNCA
Elevation
210 ft
Coordinates
4.9760° N · 8.3472° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Nigeria fields
state range 57–4,232 ft
At 210 ft, CBQ sits lower than 79% of the 29 Nigeria fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 8,040 ft
- 03/218,040 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 8,040 ft
CBQ's 8,040 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 16nmQUOAkwa Ibom International AirportUyo
- 73nmQOWSam Mbakwe International Cargo AirportOwerri
- 76nmSSGMalabo International AirportMalabo
- 80nmPHGPort Harcourt City Airport / Port Harcourt Air Force BasePort Harcourt
- 81nmTKCTiko AirportTiko
- 84nmPHCPort Harcourt International AirportPort Harcourt
Location
Open the full mapDNCA · Margaret Ekpo International Airport · Calabar, Nigeria
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CBQ on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 4,743 nm | 11h 26m |
| New York (TEB) | 4,864 nm | 11h 43m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 5,020 nm | 12h 4m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 5,186 nm | 12h 28m |
| Miami (MIA) | 5,200 nm | 12h 30m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 5,470 nm | 13h 7m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 5,482 nm | 13h 9m |
| Houston (HOU) | 5,960 nm | 14h 16m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CBQ?
- Margaret Ekpo International Airport's longest paved runway is 8,040 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CBQ?
- Margaret Ekpo International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 8,040 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CBQ?
- The closest alternate is Akwa Ibom International Airport (QUO), about 16 nm away, followed by Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (QOW) at 73 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CBQ to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 11h 26m (4,743 nm), New York about 11h 43m (4,864 nm), Washington DC about 12h 4m (5,020 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.