Karonga Airport (FWKA)
Medium airport · Karonga, Karonga District, Malawi
Airport data
| Name | Karonga Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | FWKA |
| IATA | KGJ |
| Elevation | 1,765 ft (538 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 9°57'13" E 33°53'36" -9.95357, 33.89326 |
| Location | Karonga, Karonga District, Malawi |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/32 | 4,200 ft (1280 m) | 59 ft | ASP | No |
Karonga Airport at a glance
Karonga Airport is a medium airport in Karonga, Karonga District, Malawi, known to airline systems as KGJ. The field elevation of 1,765 ft (538 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at FWKA are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 14/32, offers 4,200 ft (1280 m) of asp surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 14 points roughly 140° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for FWKA shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Karonga Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Songwe Airport | HTGW | 134 km (72 NM) |
| Mzuzu Airport | FWUU | 166 km (90 NM) |
| Dwangwa Airport | FWDW | 286 km (154 NM) |
| Iringa Airport | HTIR | 326 km (176 NM) |
| Lichinga Airport | FQLC | 398 km (215 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Karonga Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 1,765 ft field elevation of Karonga Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 5 airports and airfields we list for Malawi — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Karonga Airport
What is the ICAO code of Karonga Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Karonga Airport is FWKA, and its IATA code is KGJ. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Karonga Airport above sea level?
Karonga Airport sits at an elevation of 1,765 feet (538 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Karonga Airport located?
The airport lies at -9.9536, 33.8933 — in Karonga, Karonga District, Malawi, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Songwe Airport, about 134 km away.
Does FWKA publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for FWKA appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Karonga Airport?
Karonga Airport has one runway. The longest, 14/32, measures 4,200 ft (1280 m) with a ASP surface.