Airports / South Africa / BFN
Bram Fischer International Airport.
Bloemfontein, South Africa · 4,457 ft elevation. 2 charter operators based here.
FABL
IATA BFN
2
Operators based
4,457
Elevation ft
Based operators
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
2 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 58% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
69 nm
To the nearest alternate
Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU).
Overview
Bram Fischer International Airport (FABL / BFN) sits in Bloemfontein, South Africa, where it functions as a large commercial airport. Field elevation is 4,457 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
For charter flyers, BFN is a home base: Bassair Aviation and Westline Aviation Group operate from the field. The closest alternate fields are Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU, 69 nm), Kimberley Airport (KIM, 83 nm), and Ficksburg Sentraoes Airport (FCB, 86 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 8,396-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from BFN are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as AFB Bloemspruit and Bloemspruit. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from BFN to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
FABL
IATA
BFN
FAA / Local
FABL
Elevation
4,457 ft
Coordinates
29.0927° S · 26.3024° 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
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs South Africa fields
state range 20–5,700 ft
At 4,457 ft, BFN sits higher than 77% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 8,396 ft
- 02/208,396 ft × 151 ftAsphaltLighted
- 12/307,202 ft × 151 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 8,396 ft
BFN's 8,396 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, and at 4,457 ft this field's density altitude can extend the runway a jet actually needs on warm days. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators2
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 69nmMSUMoshoeshoe I International AirportMaseru(Mazenod)
- 83nmKIMKimberley AirportKimberley
- 86nmFCBFicksburg Sentraoes AirportFicksburg
- 135nmKXEP C Pelser AirportKlerksdorp
- 151nmPCFPotchefstroom AirportPotchefstroom
- 152nmVRUVryburg AirportVryburg
Location
Open the full mapFABL · Bram Fischer International Airport · Bloemfontein, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from BFN on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,870 nm | 16h 23m |
| Miami (MIA) | 6,957 nm | 16h 35m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,959 nm | 16h 35m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 6,966 nm | 16h 36m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,076 nm | 16h 51m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,458 nm | 17h 45m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,581 nm | 18h 2m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,785 nm | 18h 30m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use BFN?
- Bram Fischer International Airport's longest paved runway is 8,396 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 BFN?
- Bram Fischer International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 8,396 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at BFN?
- Yes. 2 charter operators list Bram Fischer International Airport as a home base, including Bassair Aviation, Westline Aviation Group. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to BFN?
- The closest alternate is Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU), about 69 nm away, followed by Kimberley Airport (KIM) at 83 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from BFN to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 23m (6,870 nm), Miami about 16h 35m (6,957 nm), New York about 16h 35m (6,959 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.