Kenema Airport (GFKE)
Medium airport · Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone
Airport data
| Name | Kenema Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | GFKE |
| IATA | KEN |
| Elevation | 485 ft (148 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 7°53'47" W 11°10'27" 7.89636, -11.17413 |
| Location | Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22 | 3,770 ft (1149 m) | — | TURF | No |
Kenema Airport at a glance
Kenema Airport is a medium airport in Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone, known to airline systems as KEN. The field elevation of 485 ft (148 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at GFKE 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, 04/22, offers 3,770 ft (1149 m) of turf surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 04 points roughly 40° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for GFKE 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 Kenema Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bo Airport | GFBO | 65 km (35 NM) |
| Yengema Airport | GFYE | 81 km (44 NM) |
| Spriggs Payne Airport | GLMR | 185 km (100 NM) |
| Roberts International Airport | GLRB | 205 km (111 NM) |
| Lungi International Airport | GFLL | 236 km (127 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Kenema Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 485 ft field elevation of Kenema 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 4 airports and airfields we list for Sierra Leone — 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 Kenema Airport
What is the ICAO code of Kenema Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Kenema Airport is GFKE, and its IATA code is KEN. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Kenema Airport above sea level?
Kenema Airport sits at an elevation of 485 feet (148 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Kenema Airport located?
The airport lies at 7.8964, -11.1741 — in Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Bo Airport, about 65 km away.
Does GFKE publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for GFKE 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 Kenema Airport?
Kenema Airport has one runway. The longest, 04/22, measures 3,770 ft (1149 m) with a TURF surface.