How Zanzibar's main airport transformed from a colonial relic into a modern international hub
In short: Located on Unguja Island, Abeid Amani Karume International Airport serves as the primary gateway to the Zanzibar Archipelago. Once known as Kisauni Airport, this facility has undergone significant expansion, evolving from a small colonial-era terminal into a modern infrastructure project capable of handling over a million international passengers annually.
The airport's history is deeply intertwined with the political evolution of the region. Originally operating under the name Kisauni Airport, it was renamed in 2010 to honor Abeid Amani Karume, who served as the first president of Zanzibar from 1905 until his death in 1972. The site retains physical remnants of its past, including Terminal 1, a modest structure dating back to the British protectorate era. While no longer used for flight operations, this building remains standing on the northern side of the modern facilities, currently serving as the airport's administrative office.
Modernization efforts began in earnest in January 2011, when the Chinese firm Beijing Construction Engineering Group broke ground on a massive third terminal. This ambitious project, estimated to cost approximately US$70.4 million, was designed to drastically increase the airport's capacity. A central feature of this expansion was the construction of a new 100,000 square metre apron, which significantly eclipsed the original 21,000 square metre space. These upgrades were essential for accommodating the airport's growing network of flights connecting Zanzibar to destinations across East Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
The path to completion was not without challenges. Although the new terminal was initially projected to be operational by 2014, technical and financial hurdles caused significant delays. After years of construction, the facility was finally inaugurated in September 2020 and officially commenced operations in early 2021. Today, the airport functions through a tiered system: Terminal 3 is dedicated to international traffic, while Terminal 2 handles both domestic and select international flights. With a design capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year, the airport stands as a vital piece of infrastructure for the archipelago's connectivity to the wider world.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
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