Mpanda Airport (NPY)

Mpanda Airport is a small regional airport serving Mpanda town and the wider Katavi Region in western Tanzania. It functions primarily as a domestic air gateway and is especially important for travellers heading to Katavi National Park, one of the country's more remote safari areas.

The airport was officially opened in its upgraded form on 24 November 2012, when a refurbished terminal and an approximately 1,820-metre asphalt runway were inaugurated. This improvement allowed the airport to receive scheduled turboprop services and made western Tanzania much easier to reach by air.

Located about 5 kilometres from the centre of Mpanda, the airport has a compact single-terminal layout, with check-in, security, waiting and baggage areas close together. Most passengers continue by taxi, private transfer, or pre-arranged vehicle to the town or to safari camps and lodges around Katavi.

Although passenger facilities are modest, the airport's small size generally means short walking distances and straightforward processing. Scheduled domestic flights connect the region with destinations such as Dar es Salaam, supporting both residents and visitors travelling to this part of Tanzania.