Mafia Airport (MFA)

Mafia Airport (MFA) is the main airport serving Mafia Island in Tanzania's Pwani Region. Located about 0.5 km southwest of the town of Kilindoni, it connects the island with mainland Tanzania through scheduled domestic flights, mainly to and from Dar es Salaam. The airport opened in 1951 and traces its roots to an earlier airstrip used from the 1930s. Today it operates a single compact terminal and a tarmac runway of about 1,500 metres, handling light aircraft and turboprops operated by carriers such as Coastal Aviation and Auric Air. As the gateway to Mafia Island Marine Park, the airport serves travellers visiting the island's coral reefs, whale shark areas and coastal lodges. Ground transport is simple: most hotels provide four-wheel-drive pick-ups, while taxis and bajaji three-wheelers cover the short ride to Kilindoni and nearby lodges. The passenger experience is deliberately small-scale and relaxed. Check-in, security and baggage claim are quick and handled within one small building, with a basic waiting area and a simple kiosk for drinks and snacks before boarding.