Songwe Airport (HTGW)
Medium airport · Mbeya, Mbeya Region, Tanzania
Airport data
| Name | Songwe Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | HTGW |
| IATA | MBI |
| Elevation | 4,412 ft (1345 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 8°55'12" E 33°16'26" -8.91994, 33.27398 |
| Location | Mbeya, Mbeya Region, Tanzania |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/27 | 10,925 ft (3330 m) | 148 ft | ASP | No |
Songwe Airport at a glance
Songwe Airport is a medium airport in Mbeya, Mbeya Region, Tanzania, known to airline systems as MBI. The field elevation of 4,412 ft (1345 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at HTGW are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 09/27, offers 10,925 ft (3330 m) of asp surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 09 points roughly 90° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for HTGW 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 Songwe Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Karonga Airport | FWKA | 134 km (72 NM) |
| Mzuzu Airport | FWUU | 292 km (158 NM) |
| Iringa Airport | HTIR | 306 km (165 NM) |
| Dodoma Airport | HTDO | 410 km (221 NM) |
| Dwangwa Airport | FWDW | 411 km (222 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Songwe Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 4,412 ft field elevation of Songwe 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 12 airports and airfields we list for Tanzania — 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 Songwe Airport
What is the ICAO code of Songwe Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Songwe Airport is HTGW, and its IATA code is MBI. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Songwe Airport above sea level?
Songwe Airport sits at an elevation of 4,412 feet (1345 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Songwe Airport located?
The airport lies at -8.9199, 33.2740 — in Mbeya, Mbeya Region, Tanzania, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Karonga Airport, about 134 km away.
Does HTGW publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for HTGW 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 Songwe Airport?
Songwe Airport has one runway. The longest, 09/27, measures 10,925 ft (3330 m) with a ASP surface.