Airports / Botswana / FRW
Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport.
Francistown, Botswana · 3,283 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FBPM
IATA FRW
0
Operators based
3,283
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
58 nm
To the nearest alternate
Selebi Phikwe Airport (PKW).
Overview
Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport (FBPM / FRW) is a large commercial airport serving Francistown, Botswana. The airport sits 3,283 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 FRW for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Selebi Phikwe Airport (PKW, 58 nm), Sua Pan Airport (SXN, 84 nm), and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (BUQ, 94 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 9,843-foot paved runway, FRW can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from FRW depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Francistown.
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Field capability
ICAO
FBPM
IATA
FRW
FAA / Local
FBPM
Elevation
3,283 ft
Coordinates
21.1592° S · 27.4688° 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 Botswana fields
state range 2,925–3,900 ft
At 3,283 ft, FRW sits lower than 43% of the 7 Botswana fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 9,843 ft
- 13/319,843 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 11/297,218 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 9,843 ft
FRW's 9,843 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.
- 58nmPKWSelebi Phikwe AirportSelebi Phikwe
- 84nmSXNSua Pan AirportSowa
- 94nmBUQJoshua Mqabuko Nkomo International AirportBulawayo
- 154nmHWNHwange National Park AirportGwayi River Farms
- 170nmGWEJosiah Tungamirai Air Force BaseGweru
- 195nmPTGPolokwane International AirportPolokwane
Location
Open the full mapFBFT · Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport · Francistown, Botswana
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from FRW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,628 nm | 15h 49m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,734 nm | 16h 4m |
| Miami (MIA) | 6,869 nm | 16h 22m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 6,870 nm | 16h 23m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 6,871 nm | 16h 23m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,289 nm | 17h 21m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,360 nm | 17h 31m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,691 nm | 18h 17m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use FRW?
- Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport's longest paved runway is 9,843 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 FRW?
- Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 9,843 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to FRW?
- The closest alternate is Selebi Phikwe Airport (PKW), about 58 nm away, followed by Sua Pan Airport (SXN) at 84 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from FRW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 15h 49m (6,628 nm), New York about 16h 4m (6,734 nm), Miami about 16h 22m (6,869 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.