Airports / Eswatini / SHO
King Mswati III International Airport.
Mpaka, Eswatini · 1,092 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FDSK
IATA SHO
0
Operators based
1,092
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
24 nm
To the nearest alternate
Matsapha International Airport (MTS).
Overview
Located in Mpaka, Eswatini, King Mswati III International Airport (FDSK / SHO) operates as a large commercial airport. The field lies at an elevation of 1,092 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
SHO has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Matsapha International Airport (MTS, 24 nm), Maputo Airport (MPM, 53 nm), and Barberton Airport (FABR, 56 nm). SHO offers a single 11,811-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of SHO vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Sikhuphe International Airport. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from SHO, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
FDSK
IATA
SHO
FAA / Local
FDSK
Elevation
1,092 ft
Coordinates
26.3586° S · 31.7169° 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
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 11,811 ft
- 02/2011,811 ft × 197 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 11,811 ft
SHO's 11,811 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.
- 24nmMTSMatsapha International AirportManzini
- 53nmMPMMaputo AirportMaputo
- 56nmFABRBarberton AirportUmjindi (Barberton)
- 67nmMQPKruger Mpumalanga International AirportMbombela
- 78nmMZQMkuze AirportMkuze
- 84nmSZKSkukuza AirportSkukuza
Location
Open the full mapFDSK · King Mswati III International Airport · Mpaka, Eswatini
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SHO on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 7,004 nm | 16h 41m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,105 nm | 16h 55m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,187 nm | 17h 7m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,192 nm | 17h 8m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,237 nm | 17h 14m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,643 nm | 18h 10m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,731 nm | 18h 23m |
| Houston (HOU) | 8,015 nm | 19h 2m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SHO?
- King Mswati III International Airport's longest paved runway is 11,811 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 SHO?
- King Mswati III International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 11,811 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SHO?
- The closest alternate is Matsapha International Airport (MTS), about 24 nm away, followed by Maputo Airport (MPM) at 53 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SHO to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 41m (7,004 nm), New York about 16h 55m (7,105 nm), Miami about 17h 7m (7,187 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.