Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

HTZA / ZNZ

Zanzibar, TZ

Last Updated
Apr 26, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 25°C
3 kt
260°
10+ km
Visibility
7,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR HTZA 261200Z 26003KT 220V300 9999 FEW014 FEW015CB BKN070 26/25 Q1010 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 54 ft
FEW 1,400 ft AGL
FEW 1,500 ft AGL (CB)
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,454 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,554 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,054 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 7,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1.2 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (260°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 7000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 1,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 25°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain MVFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1008 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (54 ft)
Pressure Alt
152 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,485 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF HTZA 261100Z 2612/2712 15005KT 9999 \U2013RA SCT016 FEW017CB BKN070
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:12Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 150° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 7,000 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
TZA
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
9,915 ft 148 ft ASP 174°
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
80° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - HTZA

2,769 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.8%
MVFR
22%
IFR
0.1%
LIFR
0.2%

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 77.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 0.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 7.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 505 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 27.9°C (range: 20°C to 34°C). The best months for VFR flying are September, February, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 7.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 505 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.1%
NE
17.3%
E
15.8%
SE
14.9%
S
13.3%
SW
9.7%
W
5.6%
NW
4.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 27.9°C
Range: 20°C to 34°C
20°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

September February December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 2,769 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: HTZA
IATA Code: ZNZ
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 54 ft MSL

Location

City: Zanzibar
Country: TZ
Latitude: -6.222020°
Longitude: 39.224899°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-3

Runway Information

Runway 18/36
Length: 9,915 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

Overview

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Zanzibar, located off the coast of Tanzania. Situated at 54 feet above mean sea level, the airport provides critical air transportation infrastructure for this island region. Its single runway (18/36) spans 9,915 feet and is constructed with asphalt, supporting significant commercial and regional aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Zanzibar's tropical maritime climate presents variable weather conditions for pilots, with significant seasonal wind shifts between northeast and southwest monsoon periods. The airport's low elevation of 54 feet MSL minimizes altitude-related performance considerations for aircraft operations. Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind components given the runway's 18/36 orientation and the region's coastal wind patterns.

Notable Features

The airport is positioned at geographical coordinates -6.222020, 39.224899, indicating its location on Zanzibar's western coastal region. Its substantial 9,915-foot runway accommodates a wide range of aircraft types, from regional turboprops to larger international passenger jets. The asphalt surface provides reliable landing and takeoff characteristics typical of major international airports in tropical environments.

Approach Considerations

Runway 18/36's length and orientation suggest flexible approach options dependent on prevailing wind conditions. Pilots should conduct standard wind assessments during pre-flight planning to determine optimal runway selection. The airport's coastal location may introduce maritime meteorological variables that could influence approach and landing procedures.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.