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Staff & service
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Jeffstar ZW5★ on Google
Airports / Zimbabwe / KAB
Medium airport · KAB
Kariba Airport.
Kariba, Zimbabwe · 1,706 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.1/5
Google rating
52 ratings
0
Operators based
1,706
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Kariba, ZimbabweELEV 1,706 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.1
Google rating
52
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1,706
Field elevation
feet above sea level
74
Nearest alternate
nm to FLLC
Field standing
#2 / 6
Zimbabwe airports by Google rating
4.1★ across 52 Google ratings , ranked against 6 rated Zimbabwe fields.
74 nm
To the nearest alternate
Lusaka City Airport (FLLC).
Overview
Kariba Airport, listed as FVKB / KAB, is a mid-sized airport in Kariba, Zimbabwe. The airport sits 1,706 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 KAB for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Lusaka City Airport (FLLC, 74 nm), Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN, 76 nm), and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE, 152 nm). With a single 5,413-foot paved runway, KAB can typically accommodate aircraft as large as super-midsize jets.
Charter pricing from KAB depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Kariba.
Run an FBO at FVKB? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“While it plays a vital role in connecting Kariba to the rest of Zimbabwe, travelers should expect minimal facilities and should plan accordingly.”
Lovemore Dhymotion Amon5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Kariba Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
FVKB
IATA
KAB
FAA / Local
FVKB
Elevation
1,706 ft
Coordinates
16.5198° S · 28.8850° 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 Zimbabwe fields
state range 1,421–4,887 ft
At 1,706 ft, KAB sits lower than 78% of the 9 Zimbabwe fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 5,413 ft
- 09/275,413 ft × 49 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 5,413 ft
KAB's 5,413 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize jets.
- 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.
- 74nmFLLCLusaka City AirportLusaka
- 76nmLUNKenneth Kaunda International AirportLusaka
- 152nmHRERobert Gabriel Mugabe International AirportHarare
- 166nmHWNHwange National Park AirportGwayi River Farms
- 184nmGWEJosiah Tungamirai Air Force BaseGweru
- 192nmLVIHarry Mwanga Nkumbula International AirportLivingstone
Location
Open the full mapFVKB · Kariba Airport · Kariba, Zimbabwe
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from KAB on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,513 nm | 15h 33m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,628 nm | 15h 49m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 6,776 nm | 16h 9m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 6,843 nm | 16h 19m |
| Miami (MIA) | 6,847 nm | 16h 19m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,212 nm | 17h 10m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,250 nm | 17h 16m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,654 nm | 18h 12m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use KAB?
- Kariba Airport's longest paved runway is 5,413 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize jets. 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 KAB?
- Kariba Airport has one runway; the longest measures 5,413 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to KAB?
- The closest alternate is Lusaka City Airport (FLLC), about 74 nm away, followed by Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) at 76 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from KAB to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 15h 33m (6,513 nm), New York about 15h 49m (6,628 nm), Washington DC about 16h 9m (6,776 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.