AviatDataChileka International Airport BLZ / FWCL
Blantyre · MW · Airport Developments Limited (ADL) - commercial parastatal wholly owned by the Government of Malawi, incorporated as a company under Malawi's 1977 Companies Act (not a statutory corporation); operates Chileka, Kamuzu (Lilongwe), Mzuzu, Likoma and Karonga aerodromes, distinct from the regulator, Civil Aviation Authority of Malawi (MCAA)
145kpax · 2023
Limited hoursInternational · customs & immigrationJet A-1 · Avgas
ICAO / IATAFWCL / BLZ
OperatorAirport Developments Limited (ADL) - commercial parastatal wholly owned by the Government of Malawi, incorporated as a company under Malawi's 1977 Companies Act (not a statutory corporation); operates Chileka, Kamuzu (Lilongwe), Mzuzu, Likoma and Karonga aerodromes, distinct from the regulator, Civil Aviation Authority of Malawi (MCAA)
Coordinates15.6811°S, 34.9717°E
Elevation2,555 ft · 779 m
Time zoneCAT (UTC+2, no DST)
Passengers / yr145,000 (2023)
CustomsYes
Border controlYes
SchengenNo
FuelJet A-1 · Avgas
Bonded—
AIP referenceFWCL - AIP Malawi
Operating hoursATC/tower 0600-1900 local (0400-1700Z) daily; extension by prior request (PPR) for off-hours movements
Terminals1 terminal - passenger lounge, restaurant, duty-free, forex, viewing balcony; modest capacity, long-deferred upgrades
Runways (2)
- 10/28 · 2,325 m / 7,628 ft · 30 m wide · Asphalt
- 15/33 · 1,372 m / 4,501 ft · 30 m wide · Asphalt
Airport contact
Malawi's secondary international gateway, well behind Kamuzu (Lilongwe) in traffic; core scheduled carriers are Airlink (JNB), Ethiopian (ADD) and Malawi Airlines (LLW/DAR/JNB). Perimeter security is documented as deficient - unfenced sections, land encroachment, and livestock/wildlife runway incursions - a factor cited in South African Airways' 2019 withdrawal (since replaced by Airlink). In Aug 2025 outgoing President Chakwera renamed it 'Bakili Muluzi International Airport', but he lost the Sep 16 2025 election to Peter Mutharika weeks later (conceded Sep 24, Mutharika inaugurated Oct 4), and ADL's own site still says 'Chileka' - verify the current official name before AIP/flight-plan filing. Pax figure (~145,000) is 2023 and stale; ADL's own airport page still shows placeholder text where a current total should be, so no confirmed newer official total exists.
Services
Available
On request / PPR
Seasonal / ageing
Unconfirmed / not listed
Ground handling
Available
LIHACO (Lilongwe Handling Company Limited)
Sole ground handler at Chileka International Airport under a concessional agreement with Airport Developments Limited (ADL) and the Department of Civil Aviation since April 2000; provides passenger check-in, gate/boarding, VIP handling, PRM assistance, aircraft marshalling, load control (weight & balance), towing/pushback, ramp-to-flight-deck communications, and air-start/ground-power services to all scheduled carriers (confirmed on lihaco.net About Us and Services pages).
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Aircraft fuel
Available
Puma Energy Malawi Limited
Sole into-plane fuel supplier at Chileka International Airport, supplying 100% of jet fuel there per company statements (businessmalawi.com/Africa Press, Jul 2026) and its own airport fuelling depot; supplies Jet A-1 and AVGAS with state-of-the-art refuellers using electronic water detection, and acts as its own into-plane agent (pumaenergy.com Aviation page). Airline customers named include Malawi Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Airlink and Nyasa Express (Nyasa Times, Oct 2024).
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
De-icing
Not listed
Part-145 line maintenance
Not listed
Part-145 base maintenance
Not listed
Component shops & overhaul
Not listed
Flight catering
Not listed
Aircraft cleaning
Available
LIHACO (Lilongwe Handling Company Limited)
Aircraft cabin cleaning and potable-water/toilet servicing as part of standard ramp/turnaround handling at Chileka, confirmed on lihaco.net's Services page.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Ground support equipment
Available
LIHACO (Lilongwe Handling Company Limited)
Operates its own ground-support-equipment fleet at Chileka and runs an in-house garage/workshop for vehicle and equipment maintenance, confirmed on lihaco.net's Services (Garage) page; in-house, LIHACO.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Cargo handling
Available
LIHACO (Lilongwe Handling Company Limited)
Cargo and baggage handling for all scheduled flights into and out of Chileka International Airport, per LIHACO's own "passenger, ramp, cargo and baggage handling" mandate published on lihaco.net.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Aviation security
Available
Airport Developments Limited (ADL)
Airport operator (statutory Government of Malawi corporation managing Chileka under concession) directly lists "Screening Services" and "Baggage Wrap" on its own Chileka International Airport page, and its Services page separately states ADL is responsible for "providing and maintaining security at aerodromes and at their associated facilities" (both confirmed on adlmw.com). No distinct third-party security contractor identified; self-provided by ADL.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Passenger & crew transport
Available · 3 providers
LIHACO (Lilongwe Handling Company Limited)
Airside bussing for passengers and crew between aircraft and terminal, listed among LIHACO's Passenger Services on lihaco.net.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Avis Rent a Car (Chileka Airport)
Car rental desk located at Chileka International Airport terminal, Blantyre (avis.com airport-location listing); usable for crew/passenger ground transport. Phone corrected from draft: avis.com lists •••, not the previously drafted number.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Europcar (Blantyre International Airport)
Car and van rental self-drive location at Chileka International Airport (BLZ), Blantyre, per Europcar's own location page (europcar.com), which also publishes a desk phone number and daily opening hours (approx. 08:00-18:00 with paid after-hours pickup/return); usable for crew/passenger ground transport.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Flight support
Unconfirmed
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS)
Government meteorological authority whose Aviation Services page (metmalawi.gov.mw) explicitly names Chileka International Airport as one of the aviation hubs it covers, and describes ATC weather reports, terminal forecasts, pilot briefings and prognostic weather charts; a Chileka-specific MET office contact is not published, so marked unconfirmed.
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Verified 2 weeks ago · unconfirmed source
Hotel & travel
Not listed