JRO Airport, also known as Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), is a public airport located in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, specifically in Hai District.
While the airport occasionally serves long-haul flights, it primarily handles domestic flights from across the country.
Managed by the Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company (KADCO), JRO was the first international airport in Tanzania to be privatized, in 1998.
Today, it serves as a gateway to Tanzania’s tourism heritage, located near some of the country’s top tourist destinations.
JRO Airport primarily serves the tourism destinations of the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions, as well as Moshi, making it the largest airport in northern Tanzania.
Situated at an elevation of 894 meters, the airport features a 3,600-meter runway and can accommodate large aircraft.
In 2014, the airport handled 802,731 passengers, with 45% being international, 38% domestic, and 17% in transit.
In a joint effort, the governments of the Netherlands and Tanzania signed a grant agreement to rehabilitate the airport, with a project cost of €35.5 million, of which €15 million was funded by the Netherlands.
Renovations began in 2015, increasing the airport’s capacity from 600,000 to 1.2 million passengers annually.
JRO Airport was initially built in 1971 with funding from a $13 million long-term loan from the Italian government. Currently, 14 airlines operate regular cargo and passenger services to and from JRO.
Outbound flights from JRO to Amsterdam include a stopover at Dar es Salaam, while Turkish Airlines flights make stopovers at Zanzibar, and flights to Doha have a stopover at Dar es Salaam.
These flights do not hold traffic rights to transport passengers solely between their stopover destinations and JRO.
Nearby Tourism Destinations
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is home to Africa’s highest mountain and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. The peak, known as Uhuru Peak, stands at 5,895 meters above sea level.
The park covers an area of 1,688 square kilometers.
The main activity at Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is mountain climbing, with six main routes: Umbwe, Lemosho, Rongai, Shira, Marangu, and Machame.
Essential items for climbers include waterproof hiking boots, raincoats, hats, sunglasses, insect repellent, long-sleeved clothing, drinking water, gloves, socks, and energy snacks.
The slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro support a habitat for various wildlife, including Cape buffalo, forest elephants, tree hyrax, grey duikers, leopards, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and bush babies.
The mountain is also home to over 150 bird species. Apart from mountain climbing, visitors can enjoy birding, hiking, guided nature walks, and mountain biking.
Tarangire National Park
Covering an area of 2,600 square kilometers, Tarangire National Park provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and is home to large herds of elephants.
Other animals you may see include lions, leopards, zebras, wildebeests, Cape buffalo, dik-dik, giraffes, banded mongoose, caracals, cheetahs, African wild dogs, honey badgers, waterbucks, Grant’s gazelle, olive baboon, impalas, and elands.
The park is also a bird-watcher’s paradise, with 550 bird species recorded. Some of the bird species found in the park include the yellow-collared lovebird, African fish eagle, and red-and-yellow barbet, among others.
Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is located in northeastern Tanzania, in the Arusha region, and is renowned for its spectacular landscapes.
The park is home to Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Momella Lakes.
The park supports a habitat for several wildlife species, including elephants, bushbucks, blue monkeys, zebras, warthogs, Cape buffalo, black and white colobus monkeys, giraffes, and leopards.
Arusha National Park is also home to various bird species.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park, located within the JRO airport region, is one of the parks served by the airport.
The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are found only here and in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park offers stunning views of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, set against the scenic lake within its boundaries.
During game drives, visitors may spot animals such as klipspringer, tree-climbing lions, buffalo, warthogs, impalas, leopards, gazelles, hippos, elephants, and more.
With over 400 bird species recorded, it is also a birding paradise, hosting species like the saddle-billed stork, spur-winged goose, yellow-billed stork, pied avocet, sacred ibis, African fish eagle, African grey hornbill, and comb duck.
