5/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“I say unique because, unlike any other airport that I have used, your luggage is brought to the terminal with a handcart and once you finish off your business,…”
V M5★ on Google
Airports / Kenya / LAU
Medium airport · LAU
Manda Airport.
Lamu, Kenya · 20 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.0/5
Google rating
384 ratings
0
Operators based
20
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Lamu, KenyaELEV 20 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.0
Google rating
384
Google reviews
ratings on Google
20
Field elevation
feet above sea level
29
Nearest alternate
nm to KWY
Field standing
29 nm
To the nearest alternate
Kiwayu Airport (KWY).
Overview
Manda Airport (HKLU / LAU) is a mid-sized airport serving Lamu, Kenya. Field elevation is 20 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list LAU as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Kiwayu Airport (KWY, 29 nm), Malindi International Airport (MYD, 76 nm), and Moi International Airport (MBA, 133 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 6,561-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from LAU 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 LAU to plan your flight.
Run an FBO at HKLU? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Staff are generally polite and helpful, and security procedures are straightforward.”
Zenzele Ndebele4★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Manda Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
HKLU
IATA
LAU
FAA / Local
HKLU
Elevation
20 ft
Coordinates
2.2524° S · 40.9129° 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 Kenya fields
state range 20–6,941 ft
At 20 ft, LAU sits lower than 94% of the 17 Kenya fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,561 ft
- 15/336,561 ft × 105 ftAsphaltUnlit
- 08/263,054 ft × 46 ftTreatedUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,561 ft
LAU's 6,561 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.
- 29nmKWYKiwayu AirportKiwayu
- 76nmMYDMalindi International AirportMalindi
- 133nmMBAMoi International AirportMombasa
- 146nmKMUKismayo AirportKismayo
- 192nmPMAPemba AirportChake Chake
- 203nmTGTTanga AirportTanga
Location
Open the full mapHKLU · Manda Airport · Lamu, Kenya
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from LAU on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,470 nm | 15h 27m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,615 nm | 15h 47m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 6,797 nm | 16h 12m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,117 nm | 16h 57m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,139 nm | 17h 0m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,173 nm | 17h 5m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 7,234 nm | 17h 13m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,267 nm | 17h 18m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use LAU?
- Manda Airport's longest paved runway is 6,561 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 LAU?
- Manda Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,561 ft on a paved surface.
- What is the nearest major airport to LAU?
- The closest alternate is Kiwayu Airport (KWY), about 29 nm away, followed by Malindi International Airport (MYD) at 76 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from LAU to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 15h 27m (6,470 nm), New York about 15h 47m (6,615 nm), Washington DC about 16h 12m (6,797 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.