Airports / Eritrea / MSW
Massawa International Airport.
Massawa, Eritrea · 194 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
5.0/5
Google rating
25 ratings
0
Operators based
194
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#1 / 3
Eritrea airports by Google rating
5.0★ across 25 Google ratings , ranked against 3 rated Eritrea fields.
35 nm
To the nearest alternate
Asmara International Airport (ASM).
Overview
Located in Massawa, Eritrea, Massawa International Airport (HHMS / MSW) operates as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 194 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list MSW as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Asmara International Airport (ASM, 35 nm), Axum Airport (AXU, 98 nm), and Mekele Alula Aba Nega Airport (MQX, 133 nm). The field has a single 11,483-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from MSW 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 MSW to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
HHMS
IATA
MSW
FAA / Local
HHMS
Elevation
194 ft
Coordinates
15.6700° N · 39.3701° 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
No
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 11,483 ft
- 07/2511,483 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 11,483 ft
MSW's 11,483 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.
- 35nmASMAsmara International AirportAsmara
- 98nmAXUAxum AirportAxum
- 133nmMQXMekele Alula Aba Nega AirportMekele
- 177nmKSLKassala AirportKassala
- 200nmGIZJizan Regional Airport / King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz AirportJizan
- 216nmOYHDHodeida International AirportHodeida
Location
Open the full mapHHMS · Massawa International Airport · Massawa, Eritrea
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from MSW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 5,638 nm | 13h 31m |
| New York (TEB) | 5,793 nm | 13h 52m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 5,985 nm | 14h 19m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 6,171 nm | 14h 45m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 6,283 nm | 15h 1m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 6,446 nm | 15h 23m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 6,459 nm | 15h 25m |
| Miami (MIA) | 6,493 nm | 15h 30m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use MSW?
- Massawa International Airport's longest paved runway is 11,483 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 MSW?
- Massawa International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 11,483 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to MSW?
- The closest alternate is Asmara International Airport (ASM), about 35 nm away, followed by Axum Airport (AXU) at 98 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from MSW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 13h 31m (5,638 nm), New York about 13h 52m (5,793 nm), Washington DC about 14h 19m (5,985 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.