BLZ Airport (Chileka International Airport) – Cargo, Address, Transit

About This Airport

Blantyre's international airport has carried a new name since 9 August 2025: officially Bakili Muluzi International Airport, though the older name Chileka remains in wide use and the codes BLZ and FWCL are unchanged. Serving the commercial capital of southern Malawi, it handles freight essentially as belly cargo on passenger flights — a dedicated cargo terminal, freighter services, verified handling agents and reliable tonnage figures are all unconfirmed. Condition is a genuine planning risk: Malawian media report deteriorating facilities, a planned runway extension is stalled by land and funding constraints, and a runway rehabilitation announced by government in 2024 has no confirmed implementation status. A JICA capacity-development project for airport maintenance runs from 2023 to 2026 and included equipment renewal in 2025. Because Malawi is landlocked, heavy or price-sensitive cargo normally moves overland through the Mozambican corridors to the ports of Beira and Nacala rather than by air, with transit times depending heavily on road conditions. For air freight, Lilongwe's Kamuzu International (LLW) in the north and Beira (BEW) in Mozambique are the practical alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IATA code of Chileka International Airport?▼

The IATA code of Chileka International Airport is BLZ. This three-letter code is used for unique airport identification in international air transport.

Where is Chileka International Airport located?▼

Chileka International Airport is located in Blantyre, MW.

What is the ICAO code of Chileka International Airport?▼

The ICAO code of Chileka International Airport is FWCL. This four-letter code is used internationally in aviation.

What is the elevation of Chileka International Airport?▼

Chileka International Airport is at an elevation of 779 meters (2555 ft) above sea level.

Chileka International AirportBLZ · FWCL

About This Airport

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