5/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“The place is neat, clean, and well-maintained, with useful facilities like an ATM and a refreshment shop inside.”
Mohamed Amzat5★ on Google
Airports / Sri Lanka / JAF
Large airport · JAF
Jaffna International Airport.
Jaffna, Sri Lanka · 33 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.3/5
Google rating
496 ratings
0
Operators based
33
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Jaffna, Sri LankaELEV 33 FTLarge airportScheduled service
4.3
Google rating
496
Google reviews
ratings on Google
33
Field elevation
feet above sea level
92
Nearest alternate
nm to ACJ
Field standing
#5 / 10
Sri Lanka airports by Google rating
4.3★ across 496 Google ratings , ranked against 10 rated Sri Lanka fields.
92 nm
To the nearest alternate
Anuradhapura Airport (ACJ).
Overview
Jaffna International Airport (VCCJ / JAF) is a large commercial airport serving Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The airport sits 33 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 JAF for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Anuradhapura Airport (ACJ, 92 nm), Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ, 99 nm), and China Bay Airport (TRR, 100 nm). With a single 4,593-foot paved runway, JAF can typically accommodate aircraft as large as midsize jets.
Charter pricing from JAF depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under SLAF Palaly and Kankesanturai. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Jaffna.
Run an FBO at VCCJ? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Even after their duty hours, cleaners and staff members kept checking on us, offering to arrange a taxi or bus if needed.”
Mohamed Amzat5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Jaffna International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
VCCJ
IATA
JAF
FAA / Local
VCCJ
Elevation
33 ft
Coordinates
9.7923° N · 80.0701° 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 Sri Lanka fields
state range 6–324 ft
At 33 ft, JAF sits higher than 50% of the 10 Sri Lanka fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 4,593 ft
- 05/234,593 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 4,593 ft
JAF's 4,593 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to 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.
- 92nmACJAnuradhapura AirportAnuradhapura
- 99nmTRZTiruchirappalli International AirportTiruchirappalli
- 100nmTRRChina Bay AirportTrincomalee
- 117nmIXMMadurai AirportMadurai
- 118nmHIMHingurakgoda Air Force BasePolonnaruwa Town
- 132nmPNYPondicherry AirportPuducherry (Pondicherry)
Location
Open the full mapVCCJ · Jaffna International Airport · Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from JAF on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,942 nm | 14h 13m |
| Honolulu (HNL) | 6,913 nm | 16h 29m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 7,169 nm | 17h 4m |
| Boston (BED) | 7,297 nm | 17h 22m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,446 nm | 17h 43m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 7,547 nm | 17h 57m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,623 nm | 18h 8m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,629 nm | 18h 9m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use JAF?
- Jaffna International Airport's longest paved runway is 4,593 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to 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 JAF?
- Jaffna International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 4,593 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to JAF?
- The closest alternate is Anuradhapura Airport (ACJ), about 92 nm away, followed by Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) at 99 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from JAF to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 14h 13m (5,942 nm), Honolulu about 16h 29m (6,913 nm), Seattle about 17h 4m (7,169 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.