Airports / Malawi / BLZ
Chileka International Airport.
Blantyre, Malawi · 2,555 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.4/5
Google rating
199 ratings
0
Operators based
2,555
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
81 nm
To the nearest alternate
Tete Airport (TET).
Overview
Located in Blantyre, Malawi, Chileka International Airport (FWCL / BLZ) operates as a large commercial airport. Field elevation is 2,555 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list BLZ as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Tete Airport (TET, 81 nm), Kamuzu International Airport (LLW, 133 nm), and Lichinga Airport (VXC, 145 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 7,628-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from BLZ are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from BLZ to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
FWCL
IATA
BLZ
FAA / Local
FWCL
Elevation
2,555 ft
Coordinates
15.6772° S · 34.9723° 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 Malawi fields
state range 1,605–4,115 ft
At 2,555 ft, BLZ sits lower than 40% of the 5 Malawi fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 7,628 ft
- 10/287,628 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
- 15/334,501 ft × 98 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 7,628 ft
BLZ's 7,628 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.
- 81nmTETTete AirportTete
- 133nmLLWKamuzu International AirportLumbadzi
- 145nmVXCLichinga AirportLichinga
- 170nmUELQuelimane AirportQuelimane
- 192nmFVMTMutoko AirportMutoko
- 196nmDWADwangwa AirportDwangwa
Location
Open the full mapFWCL · Chileka International Airport · Blantyre, Malawi
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from BLZ on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,749 nm | 16h 6m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,873 nm | 16h 23m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,031 nm | 16h 45m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,149 nm | 17h 2m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,156 nm | 17h 3m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,479 nm | 17h 48m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,487 nm | 17h 49m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,949 nm | 18h 53m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use BLZ?
- Chileka International Airport's longest paved runway is 7,628 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 BLZ?
- Chileka International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 7,628 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to BLZ?
- The closest alternate is Tete Airport (TET), about 81 nm away, followed by Kamuzu International Airport (LLW) at 133 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from BLZ to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 6m (6,749 nm), New York about 16h 23m (6,873 nm), Washington DC about 16h 45m (7,031 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.