Pemba Airport (PMA)

Pemba Airport (HTPE (PMA)), also known as Karume Airport or Wawi Airport, is a regional civil airport located approximately 7 kilometers southeast of Chake Chake on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. It serves as the primary aerial gateway for Pemba Island, facilitating regional and domestic flights.

Type of Facility and Operations: Pemba Airport operates as a public civil airport and is the second-largest in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It primarily handles domestic flights to destinations such as Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar City, with airlines including Air Tanzania, Auric Air, Coastal Aviation, and FlexFlight. The airport's administrative hours are Monday to Friday from 0430-1230Z, with tower operations from 0430-1530Z.

Notable Features and History: Originally constructed in 1962 with a 500-meter runway, the airport initially supported light propeller-driven aircraft for clove agriculture, fishing, and nascent tourism. Since 2011, it has been managed by the Zanzibar Airports Authority. The airport features a single paved runway that measures 1,525 meters (5,003 feet) in length. Passenger facilities are basic, with check-in counters and a small waiting area, and the airport currently lacks amenities such as Wi-Fi, ATMs, foreign exchange services, restaurants, or lounges.

Current Status: Pemba Airport is currently undergoing significant modernization and expansion. A major project, launched in 2025, aims to transform it into a modern international airport by extending the runway and constructing a new terminal. This expansion is projected to increase passenger capacity more than sevenfold by 2027 and enable direct international flights. The Zanzibar government officially handed over the construction site to the contractor in October 2023.